Principle of Lab Animal Sciences (BMPL 5222)

Laboratory animal science may be defined as the study of the scientific, ethical, and legal use of animalsin biomedical research, that is, a multidisciplinary field encompassing biological and patho- biologicalspecialties for the optimal scientific use of animals as models for humans or other species. Basiclaboratory animal science is concerned with the quality of animals as sentient tools in biomedicalresearch. It encompasses comparative biology of laboratory animals, technical aspects of breeding,housing and husbandry, anesthesia, euthanasia, and experimental techniques. Laboratory animalmedicine is a veterinary specialty, focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases inanimals used as subjects in biomedical activities. High-quality animals and animal care ensure thehighest possible health and welfare status of the animals and are prerequisites for good science andpublic acceptance of the use of animals in research.