SHUA13047U Laboratory Animal Science, Human Biology

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Human Biology - compulsory

Content

The course is a function A/B/D course according to the EU Directive 2010/63/EU Article 23.2 (previously designated category C), accredited by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) and approved by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries under the Danish Government.

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.

The course adheres to the EU Directive 2010/63/EU and the more detailed learning outcomes described by EU's expert working group in 'A working document on the development of a common education and training framework to fulfill the requirements under the Directive'

Learning Outcome

After completing the course the student is expected to:

Knowledge

  • understand that animal experimentation is complicated and requires current training to secure the well-being of the animals and the scientific outcome 
  • explain the biological basis of laboratory animal breeding and maintenance, housing and management including basic genetics and reproduction, health monitoring, housing and handling (pre-, intra and post-procedural)
  • explain the legal basis for animal experimentation 
  • explain and critically evaluate the scientific methods applied within animal experimentation including blood sampling, injections, principles for drug-development and testing, anesthesia and analgesia and evaluation of pain -and stress related behaviour in laboratory animals 
  • discuss the basic biology of laboratory animals including behavioural and physiological needs
  • explain and critically evaluate basic knowledge relating to design and evaluation of studies using live animals

 

Skills

  • organize self-training on handling and procedures in the most common laboratory animals 
  • discuss and evaluate the basic principles on how to use animals for research 
  • discuss and evaluate principles of procedures on their future experiments 
  • discuss, evaluate and argue about the ethical basis for the use of animals for research 

 

Competencies 

  • Independently take responsibility to implement and further develop practical skills in handling of common rodents used for research
  • independently take responsibility to implement and further develop practical skills in the performance basic animal experiments 
  • achieve a personal license to independently plan, implement and take responsibility for the design and performance of animal experimentation within the European Union according to the EU Directive 2010/63/EU Article 23.2 and the ”Danish executive order 12 of 07/01/2016 §56” .
Literature
  • Hau, J. & Schapiro SJ: Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science, 4th ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2021.
  • Additional review papers.
  • Animal experimentation legislation.
  • Exercise manual for Laboratory Animal Science.
  • Lectures and on-line material on Absalon
Basic knowledge in physiology, anatomy and pharmacology.
The theory is given as a number of online teaching modules including e-lectures, case work, and quizzes. Plenum discussions in a lecture room with a teacher will be offered occasionally during the block. The student is expected to be reading in the curriculum.
Practical exercises handling live animals with instructors are given as three mandatory sessions. Performance will be evaluated during these exercises. The students are expected to be prepared by reading a manual and watching videos prior to the exercises sessions.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 13
  • Preparation
  • 24
  • Practical exercises
  • 20
  • E-Learning
  • 80
  • Exam
  • 0,5
  • Total
  • 137,5
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
2,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Requirement to attend classes
Type of assessment details
Approved participation in the training activities, including approved participation in the practical exercises.
Exam registration requirements

None

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve a course certificate, the student must be able to:

Knowledge

  • understand that animal experimentation is complicated and requires current training to secure the well-being of the animals and the scientific outcome 
  • explain the biological basis of laboratory animal breeding and maintenance, housing and management including basic genetics and reproduction, health monitoring, housing and handling (pre-, intra and post-procedural)
  • explain the legal basis for animal experimentation 
  • explain and critically evaluate the scientific methods applied within animal experimentation including blood sampling, injections, principles for drug-development and testing, anesthesia and analgesia and evaluation of pain -and stress related behaviour in laboratory animals 
  • discuss the basic biology of laboratory animals including behavioural and physiological needs
  • give examples of commonly applied animal models
  • explain and critically evaluate basic knowledge relating to design and evaluation of studies using live animals 

 

Skills

  • organize self-training on handling and procedures in the most common laboratory animals 
  • discuss and evaluate the basic principles on how to use animals for research 
  • discuss and evaluate principles of procedures on their future experiments 
  • discuss, evaluate and argue about the ethical basis for the use of animals for research 
  • be able to plan an experiment in relation to experimental design, group sizes and reporting
Credit
2,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 15 minutes under invigilation
Type of assessment details
A number of exam questions based on the entire curriculum are available when the course starts. On the day of the exam, two (2) out of these questions are drawn by random for the student to answer satisfactorily.
Exam registration requirements

Approved participation in the course (SHUA13047E) 

Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade Passed, the student must adequately be able to:

Knowledge 

  • understand that animal experimentation is complicated and requires current training to secure the well-being of the animals and the scientific outcome 
  • explain the biological basis of laboratory animal breeding and maintenance, housing and management including basic genetics and reproduction, health monitoring, housing and handling (pre-, intra and post-procedural)
  • explain the legal basis for animal experimentation 
  • explain and critically evaluate the scientific methods applied within animal experimentation including blood sampling, injections, principles for drug-development and testing, anesthesia and analgesia and evaluation of pain -and stress related behaviour in laboratory animals 
  • discuss the basic biology of laboratory animals including behavioural and physiological needs
  • give examples of commonly applied animal models
  • explain and critically evaluate basic knowledge relating to design and evaluation of studies using live animals 

 

Skills

  • organize self-training on handling and procedures in the most common laboratory animals 
  • discuss and evaluate the basic principles on how to use animals for research 
  • discuss and evaluate principles of procedures on their future experiments 
  • discuss, evaluate and argue about the ethical basis for the use of animals for research 
  • be able to plan an experiment in relation to experimental design, group sizes and reporting