Lesson 4
Learning Topic:
Specific facts about the use of animals in
biomedical research review.
Focus Question:
What are the 3 Rs of animal research that you
learned about in your webquest?
Why are these important?
Reduce the number of animals being used, Refine
techniques to reduce pain and distress, Replace animal
models with virtual and in vitro models when possible.
These are important because they ensure that the
welfare of the animals is forefront in the research
process.
The Animal Welfare Act of 1966 governs the humane
handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals
by research facilities, dealers and exhibitors. It has
been updated and amended many times since then.
Facts
• Over 90% of the animals used are
rodents.
• Most of the animals are bred for
research by labs, they are not caught
from the wild or taken from owners.
• Many facilities have adoption programs.
Facts
• The number of animals used in research is
declining, not going up.
• The number of rodents and fish is increasing
because of the ability to manipulate their DNA
for various studies, including cancer.
“Cruelty Free” really can mean:
• Company A didn’t research this product but hired
someone who did.
• This product is made of two other products that were
already researched and considered safe.
• This product has not been researched in the last
5 years.
• This product was never researched.
Welfare and Rights
• Welfare: all people have a moral obligation to
treat animals humanely
and responsibly
• Rights: philosophical notion that humans and
animals have the same legal rights
The Drug Discovery Process
(AALAS, 2004)
The process of creating new medicines
does not begin, nor does it end,
with animals.
Basic Research Stage – years 0-3
• Thousands of substances are being examined and
screened for medical properties.
Development Stage – years 4-10
•Between years 4-10 substances are researched, both in
vitro (within an artificial environment including computer
simulations), and in vivo (within a living body)
•Preclinical research using animals (years 4, 5, and 6)
•Clinical research using humans (years 7, 8, 9, and 10).
During this time, the number of substances is narrowed
down to 1 or 2.
Registration of new medicine with the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Introduction of the drug to the public (years 11+)
Product surveillance is done on people years 11,
12+. The product can be recalled even after it was
prescribed to the public.
The whole process takes between 11 and 15 years,
during which both animals and people are researched.
Homework
Choose from the below worksheets:
• Mouse Math
• Scientific Criss-Cross
• Lab Animal Science Definitions Challenge
• Anatomy Matching Game