BB856: Laboratory animal science for biologists

Course is tailored to the requirements for biology students who are planning to do animal experimentation in their MSc project. Other students can enrol for the course SU809.

There are limited number of participants. The following criteria are used to rank applicants:

1. Students with the largest number of ECTS points have highest priority.
2. Students accepted for MSc studies have the second highest priority.
3. Students, who follow their MSc studies in conjunction with his or her BSc studies (dispensation for 30 ECTS MSc courses) have the third highest priority.
4. Bachelor students

If there are students with the same number of ECTS in category 4, the students are selected randomly in this category.

The Faculty of Science is performing the selection of students. Students, who are not selected but put on a waiting list, will be notified by the Faculty. Students on the waiting list are not moved over to the following year.It is importan
t to meet up on the first course day or notify the teacher if this is not possible, as there is a waiting list for this course. 

Students following this course are expected to

• have knowledge about basic zoophysiological principles
• be able to use scientific methods to perform experimental studies
• be able to use basic statistical and probability methods to describe and analyse data
• use simple physical models and explain their rationale and traits for collection and calculation of data, sharing of knowledge, and scientific presentations

General study competences:
The course uses functions in SDU’s e-learn system, e.g. wiki and blog. Participation therefore requires the students to know these functions.
Links may be added, where the students can evaluate their own knowledge about these issues by a test.

Examples of general study competences:

• knowledge about lab safety
• can collaborate in different learning situations
• be able to find scientific information in relevant data bases
• evaluate the relevance and quality of acquired information
• know about SDUs digital learning platform and use digital tools 

• give competences to participate in animal experimentation, where you decide about use of animals in reserach, and be part of collaborations between scientists, veterinarians and animal caretakers.
• fulfil the qualification demands for persons involved in animal experimentation according to Danish and European legislation.
• obtain abilities for production and analysis of data collected with experimental animals, including knowledge about biological variation and sources of bias in animal experimentation
  
• supply knowledge about the biology of experimental animals, their husbandry requirements, usage of experimental methods, anesthesia and euthanasia of experimental animals, legislation and ethics, and general animal experimental methodology. 

• handle experimental animals safely and correct
• use anesthesia in animal experimentation
• perform different types of interventions in animal experiments
• use experimental animals in biomedical research
• work with experimental animals according to legal and ethical guidelines

• Legal and ethical aspects considering animal experimentation: National and international legislation and ethical considerations in connection to animal experimentation 
• Animal experiments, experimental planning and alternative models: Animal models in general. The ‘three R’s’: guidelines for keeping and husbandry of animals. Planning for experiments (experimental design and statistics). Use of cell cultures and other alternatives.
  
• Nutrition: Nutritional needs, different types of food, amount of food and feeding intervals, et cetera.
  
• Anesthesia: pain relief and euthanasia. Types of s for different types of vertebrates. Practical aspects of anesthesia. Grades of anesthesia. Surgical methods. Post-operative treatment. Relief of pain. Euthanasia methods for different types of vertebrates.
  
• Mice, rats and other mammals as animal models. Handling of rats and mice. Genetics of experimental animals. Health status. Sampling. Surgical methods. Prevention and reduction of pain. Anesthesia, et cetera.
  
• Birds as experimental animals: Handling of birds. Health status. Sampling. Surgical methods. Prevention and reduction of pain. Euthanasia.
  
• Fish as experimental animals. Fish as mode animals for biological research. August Krogh principle and specific examples form fish models.
  
• Transport and housing. Aquarium types. Water quality and critical water parameters. Disease prevention and treatment. Pain and stress in fish.
  
• Handling. Anesthesia. Sampling, injections and surgical techniques (especially catheters). Euthanasia. 
  
• Amphibians and reptiles as experimental animals. Using amphibians and reptiles in biological research. Housing and feeding. Handling. Sampling, injections and surgical techniques. Euthanasia.

• handling experimental animals
• genetics of experimental animals
• gene modifications in experimental animals
• anesthesia and euthanasia
• experimental procedures, surgical methods
• post-surgical care
• legislation and ethics
• biology of experimental animals
• housing and husbandry of experimental animals
• clinic observations
• animal welfare
• human endpoints

• Introduction phase: 18 hours
• Training phase 14 hours, with 14 hours laboratory exercises

• Solving weekly problems to discuss these during the tutorials
• Solving project assignments (4 hours, e-learn assignment)
• Self studies of certain parts of the course book
• Independent summary of intro- and training phases