SVEK13099U Laboratory Animal Science category C for the Biomedical Sciences

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biology-Biotechnology - semi-compulsory
Content
The course includes the following topics: Ethical, welfare, and legislative aspects of using animals for research; biology and behaviour, husbandry, genetics, breeding, transgenesis, anaesthesia and analgesia of laboratory animals, experimental procedures, alternatives to animal use and analysis of relevant scientific literature.
Learning Outcome
The course is a category C course in accordance with the European Council's convention ETS 123 and the Councils Resolution on Education and Training of Persons Working with Laboratory Animals from December 3, 1993 and it is accredited by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations as well as the Ministry of Justice under the Danish Givernment.
The course gives as practical and theoretic introduction to handling, housing and using laboratory animals and how to replace, refine and reduce the use of live animals for research.

Having completed the course it is expected that the student has the following:

Knowledge
The student knows
- that animal experimentation is complicated and requires current training to secure the well-being of the animals and the scientific outcome
- the biological basis of laboratory animal breeding and maintenance including basic genetics and reproduction, health monitoring and handling
- the legal basis for animal experimentation
- the scientific methods applied within animal experimentation including anesthesia and analgesia and evaluation of pain -and stress related behaviour in laboratory animals
- the basic biology of laboratory animals including behavioural and physiological needs.

Skills
The student is able to
- do self training on handling and procedures in the most common laboratory animals
- explain the basic principles on how to use animals for research
- apply principles of procedures on their future experiments
- reflect over the ethical basis for the use of animals for research

Competencies
The student is able to
- perform basic handling of common rodents when used for research
- perform basic animal experiments
- achieve a personal license to do so within the European Union according to guidelines for category C education issued by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Associations.

Literature
Hau, J. & Schapiro SJ: Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science, 3nd ed., Vol. 1, CRC Press, Roca Raton, 2011.
A list with all theoretical questions for the exam will be placed on Absalon.
Exercise manual for Laboratory Animal Science (will be placed on Absalon).
Lectures and theoretical case work will be placed as e-learning on Absalon and followed up by discussion sessions with a teacher, while handling and experimental techniques will be demonstrated and practiced on dummies and later on live animals.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 9
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Lectures
  • 5
  • Practical exercises
  • 15
  • Preparation
  • 140
  • Theory exercises
  • 36
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 15 minutes
During the oral exam the student will have to reply on a theoretical question as well as discuss and eventually show events from one of the practicals or theoreticals.
Exam registration requirements
80 % attendance at the practical exercises.
Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period
Eksamination week, block 2
Re-exam
Re-eksamination week, block 2
Criteria for exam assesment

The student must
- demonstrate qualified, species-specific basic handling techniques (demonstrated on toy animal models).

- explain and demonstrate on toy animal models in details minor procedures (blood sampling and injections techniques) and/or surgical techniques trained during the practicals at the course.

- discuss ethical and legal principles of use of experimental animals (including i.a. the 3 Rs) and demonstrate knowledge on how to apply for animal experimentation

- demonstrate knowledge on present principles and methods of experimental animal use including principles relating tolaboratory animal breeding/reproduction and housing/maintenance, health monitoring and methods for genetic monitoring and modification/transgenic techniques as well as anesthesia, analgesia (intra- and post operatively), evaluation of pain -and stress related behaviour and basic biology of laboratory animals including behavioural and physiological needs.

- demonstrate knowledge on basic surgical principles regarding both surgical techiniques and handling of the animal pre-, intra- and postoperatively.

- demonstrate knowledge on experimental design, evaluation of animal experiments