Biology 2672a

Animals in teaching and research

“Vivisection” The practice of working on live

(rather than dead) organisms “the science of life is a superb and

dazzlingly lighted hall which may be reached only by passing through a long and ghastly kitchen” Claude Bernard (1813-1878)

“Father of Physiology” Coined term Homeostasis

There are undeniable benefits to using animals in researchAnimal ‘models’ for diseases or

basic science phenomenaConsiderable medical advancesEnables exhaustive testing of

pharmaceuticals (and other things) before use on humans

Ethics of using animals as research subjects

Descartes (1596-1650)Animals have no souls, minds or reason

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)Animals are sentient and humans are obliged against cruelty

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)The capacity to suffer should be the benchmark for how we treat other creatures

Rise of physiology (and vivsection) in the 19th Century RSPCA (UK) - 1824 ASPCA (USA) - 1866 Anti-vivisection society (France)

Started in 1883 by Claude Bernard’s wife (!) Darwin:

"You ask about my opinion on vivisection. I quite agree that it is justifiable for real investigations on physiology; but not for mere damnable and detestable curiosity. It is a subject which makes me sick with horror, so I will not say another word about it, else I shall not sleep to-night.“ (1871)

Modern ViewsGenerally Utilitarian (greatest

common good)Need to justify necessityNeed to find replacementsPeer reviewAnimal use committees

Can be viewed as consenting on behalf of the animal

Animal rights

Peter Singer (1946- )

•Argues against ‘speciesism’•Equality is generally based on prescription, not fact•Medical use ok if benefits outweigh harm done•Everybody should be vegetarian or (preferably) vegan

‘Animal Testing’Safety testing

“pouring cosmetics in rabbits’ eyes”

Now phased out Cell lines (toxicity), human trials (hypoallergenic)

Still done for most pharmaceuticals prior to clinical trials

Regulated animal use Canadian Council for Animal Care

"The use of animals in research, teaching, and testing is acceptable ONLY if it promises to contribute to understanding of fundamental biological principles, or to the development of knowledge that can reasonably be expected to benefit humans or animals.”

Has power to withhold grant agency money

Policies are administered locally by the University Council on Animal Care (UCAC)

The 3R PrincipleReplace animal models wherever

possibleReduce numbers of animals usedRefine animal use procedures

The 3Rs in Biology 2672 Replace animal models

Introduction of insect SCP lab (insects aren’t ‘animals’ by CCAC definitions)

Reduce numbers of animals We use mice on rotation – minimises

numbers whilst maintaining relatively low stress for the mice

Refine Procedures Use tried-and true methods that work fine

– so long as students follow instructions and are careful!

UCACApprove use of animals* for

research and teachingEverything, from handling to

invasive surgical experimentsFrom acquisition to the point

where the animal is euthanizedMake case-by-case assessments

of proposals

*Vertebrates, cephalopods, some large crustaceans

UCAC – not much to say explicitly on teaching ‘Peer review for pedagogical merit shall

consist of, at minimum, a review at a department level to be summarized in the Pedagogical Merit Review form and signed by the Chair of the Department’

‘Painful experiments or multiple invasive procedures on animals conducted solely for classroom student instruction, or for demonstration of established scientific knowledge cannot be justified’

The Procedure I put together a proposal to use

animals in teaching Includes names of all TAs and the training

they will receive Detailed – 23 pages long + lab manual

Informally reviewed by a veterinarian Changes made, formally submitted to

AUS Renewal application every year, Full

proposal every 5th year.

The application ‘Describe the purpose of your use of

animals’ ‘Describe the possible replacement,

refinement and reduction alternatives to animal use, and offer justification if these are not employed’

‘Indicate how you have determined your animal numbers’

Animal use subcomittee Director, Animal Care UWO Biosafety officer, UWO 2 x profs from Medical Sciences 3 x researchers from Lawson Health

research Institute 1 x prof from Robarts Institute 1 x prof from Psychology 1 x prof from Biology 1 x technician who works with animal care 1 x grad student 5 x others

At least 4 non-users of animals At least three from outside UWO community

Meets 11 times/year

Scientists as public citizens In performing public funded

research, scientists are held to higher standards than private citizens Fish

specified care and monitoring, painless euthanasia Vs sport fishing as a private citizen...

All very well for medical research – what about non-medical?

Establishing benefits can be harder ‘Fundamental biological principles’

Square peg, round hole e.g. field ecology studies

Research animal use in context 2006: CCAC reports 2,535,989 animals used

in research or University teaching 843,881 Fish (including zebrafish) 910,540 Mice (about 52 in Biol 272) 331,560 Rats

Catchable size rainbow trout released in BC lakes in 2006: 135,745

Sockeye Salmon catch 2006: 10,106 tonnes (~3.3 million 3 kg fish)

No stats available for numbers of rats and mice killed in pest control operations

Our responsibilitiesAvoid unnecessary painAvoid wasteful use of animalsRespect animals, never treat

them with contemptFollow this through to making

good use of the information Obligation to treat both teaching

and research data as important

Ethics of using ‘non-animal’ animals and plantsA Drosophila experiment could

use 20,000 flies…Consideration tends to be for

population-level issues Oversampling Habitat damage

Nevertheless, we try to respect the animals we work with, and try not to waste life

End of Lecture Quiz 3 material

Reading for TuesdayBreathing in Air

Pp 561-572 Pp 575-579