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equal rights for great apes
Rights for Great Apes
I support scientists researching on and experimenting with great apes. Since scientists don’t want to jeopardize the lives of humans, they test on apes. If they were not testing apes, then they would be testing other animals which other people would also fight against. Scientists perform tests on these apes for one very important reason, “98.4 percent of the DNA in chimpanzees (and 97.7 percent of the DNA in gorillas) is identical to the DNA of human beings.” This proves that there is no better animal to conduct tests and experiments than apes because their genetic similarities. This means their reactions, results, and the effects will most likely be similar to those of human beings. I do agree with testing apes, whether for research, or for new products; anything that can better the lives of humans. However, I do not support scientists treating these apes so poorly, and in harsh conditions. In the National Geographic film, we witnessed Jane Goodall at a research lab where dozens of chimpanzees, ranging in ages, were held captive in small cages barely big enough to move, and were fed small portions. It was clear these chimpanzees were facing great fear and trauma while being held in captivity. Testing the apes is okay but it is not fair to treat them so harshly and immorally. Apes are living creatures too and as well as other creatures, deserve to be treated with respect.
Throughout many years of our existence, humanity has constantly questioned (and still continues to) “How have we come to be?” From Darwin’s single theory and after thorough and extensive research we have come to discover that we have evolved from an ape like species in which other apes have come from too. Scientists test different apes to see our similarities in behavior and see how our earliest ancestor may have acted like; some tests may be cruel and immoral. However, other people support the great ape project; a fight for rights and equality of apes. In

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