Vertebrate Animals

SRC review of the Research Plan is required prior to ANY project involving vertebrate animals, even those involving observation only.

The Metro Richmond Science Fair rules regarding the use of Vertebrate Animals in experimentation follow Intel ISEF guidelines. It is highly suggested that all students and teachers review the Intel ISEF guidelines at http://www.sciserv.org/isef/rules/rules10.pdf, in addition to those in this handbook.

Vertebrate animals, as covered by these rules, are defined as any live, nonhuman vertebrate mammalian embryos or fetuses, bird or reptile eggs within three days (72 hours) of hatching, or any other nonhuman vertebrates at hatching or birth (e.g. tadpoles are considered vertebrates when they hatch from the egg).

The use of animals for legitimate learning in the classroom and for science research projects is morally acceptable as long as proper guidelines are followed. Such use must be aimed at demonstrating biological or behavioral principles and not at demonstrating surgical techniques. Invasive studies that duplicate prior experiments by others should be avoided.

If the student is working in an institutional lab with laboratory animals, written approval from the institution’s Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) must be included with the Research Plan.

  1. Students should make sure that written evidence is included in the Research Plan that they have explored with their Adult Sponsor or Qualified Scientist the use of alternatives to vertebrate animals before beginning their research. The use of Protista or invertebrates, such as planaria or insects, should be encouraged for student research. They are readily available in wide varieties and larger numbers, and are inexpensive compared to vertebrates. Also, projects involving invertebrates do not require prior approval by the Scientific Review Committee.

    The Research Plan must include    :
    • the type and number of animals to be used, as well as the strain, sex, age, weight and source of the animals.
    • that the student has explored the possibility of Replacing vertebrates with lower life forms, tissue or cell cultures or computer simulations; Reducing the number of animals used without making the study statistically invalid; or Refining the procedure to reduce pain or stress to the animals.
    • a justification as to why animals must be used, including the reasons that the student chose that particular type and number of animals. Also include information on what alternatives to using vertebrates were considered.
    • an explanation of the potential impact the research may have on science or medicine.
    • an explanation, in detail, of how the animals will be used and what procedures will be used to minimize discomfort or stress during the experiment.

  1. A copy of the Vertebrate Animal Form (Form 5A or 5B) must be submitted with the Research Plan. In addition, all vertebrate animal studies, except for those below, require a Designated Supervisor and/or a Qualified Scientist.
  1. Studies involving the observation of animals in their natural habitat, or in zoos, where there is no interaction between the researcher and the animal do not require a Qualified Scientist or a Designated Supervisor but DO require prior SRC approval. The Vertebrate Animal Form (Form 5A) should be filled out indicating the type of animal being observed and the nature of the study.
  1. Before using any animals for experimentation, students need to understand that they have a responsibility to ensure that the animals are treated humanely. Any experiment or procedure which causes more than momentary pain or suffering to a vertebrate animal, or is designed to kill a vertebrate animal is prohibited. Humane euthanasia of project animals to harvest tissue is allowed, but only in an institutional laboratory and only if proper methods (AVMA approved) are used. Students must not perform euthanasia.

    Other types of projects which are not allowed include:
    • Any study in which vertebrate animals are treated with alcohol, acid rain, insecticide, heavy metals, etc. to determine the toxicity.
    • Behavioral studies which involve operant conditioning with painful stimuli, induced helplessness or mother/infant separation.
    • Studies of pain.
    • Predator/vertebrate prey experiments.

 

  1. If working at home or at school, students also need to think about what will be done with the animals when the project is completed. Teachers, parents and students should discuss this together before the decision to use animals is made. There is a section on the Vertebrate Animal Form (Form 5A) to report the disposition of the animals.

 

Additional Regulations for Vertebrate Animals

  • Animals may not be captured from or released into the wild without approval of authorized wildlife and public health officials. Fish from the wild may be used as long as they are released unharmed and the student follows state and local fishing regulations.
  • The duration of food or water deprivation in an experiment must be appropriate to the species, but may not exceed 18 hours.
  • Since weight loss is an important sign of physical or mental stress, animals may not lose more than 15% of their body mass. It is important to weigh the animals at the start of the experiment and at intervals during the course of the project.
  • Unexpected deaths occasionally occur, but the cause of the deaths must be investigated. If the experiment is the cause of the death, then the experiment must be stopped. Projects with a death rate of 30% or greater in any group or subgroup will be disqualified.

For detailed regulations for more advanced studies, consult the Intel ISEF web site at http://www.sciserv.org/isef/rules/rules10.pdf

 

Types of Vertebrate Animal Projects

The Intel ISEF has divided vertebrate animal projects into 2 types based on the research site and the possible harm to the animal. There are additional rules for each of the project types and it is essential that students and teachers, or other Adult Sponsors, carefully read the rules that apply to the student’s project.

Section A - Non-regulated sites:


Studies that involve behavior, observation, agriculture or supplemental nutrition only and are non-invasive or not harmful to the animal’s health. These projects may be conducted in a non-regulated research site such as the student’s home, farm or school.  Click the link above for more information.

Section B - Regulated Research Institutions:

All other studies, especially those involving invasive procedures, tissue collection, or more than minimal stress. These studies must be conducted in a regulated research institution under the supervision of a Qualified Scientist.  Click the link above for more information.

 

Sources of Information

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarhome/index.shtml


Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Precollege Education

This free brochure from the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) is designed for teachers and students and is available via the link on the following web site:

http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarhome/educators.shtml

Federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/awicregs.htm

Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Agri-Guide)

This guide can be ordered for download at the following link.
http://www.fass.org/page.asp?pageID=216

For sources of information on alternative research and animal welfare see the ISEF website at:

http://www.sciserv.org/isef/rules/rules10.pdf

 8/27/07