Alternatives to animal testing have been increasing, as a result of the efforts of organizations against animal testing. In fact, these groups have developed many alternative methods of testing, including computer simulations and chemical tests.
Alternatives to animal testing include an increased use of computers. There are many ways that a computer program can simulate many of the animal tests now conducted by many schools and corporations.
For example, computer simulators are now used by many colleges when students are studying the rewards center in the human brain. Previously, rats were used to show how the reward system worked. Instead the same test is shown on a computer, with a lifelike rat taking part in the maze test and other tests.
Computer simulators can also analyze date from chemical testing, which may help to determine what type of reaction a human may have to a product. Utilizing past data from animal tests, the computer can analyze chemical reactions to determine if there could be negative side effects from the use of a product.
As new animal testing alternatives are developed, many companies now rely on past animal testing data. They may for example, analyze several tests in which different products were used, in order to see if a new product, which has those same ingredients, would cause any harm to a human.