RAR moderates a tissue sharing program to help investigators minimize the need for live animals for experiments. Advantages to replacement include utilizing pre-existing knowledge for teaching, applying known principles to new systems to look for similarities, and using less expensive animals or models to screen large numbers of agents for toxicity or mutagenicity. Disadvantages to replacement chiefly stem from the fact that any models are dependent on pre-existing information. In a system as complex as a live organism, all of the variables in physiology and pathology are not known. Thus, any research on new biological processes must utilize a living organism at some point.
Reduction means minimizing the number of animals needed to perform an experiment or teach a concept.
This alternative is addressed in Appendix A, but also in Question 4 of the Animal Usage Form which asks for justification of the species to be used and the numbers needed for each experimental group. Minimizing variables such as disease, stress, diet, genetics, etc., that may affect experimental results Performing appropriate literature searches and consulting with colleagues to ensure that experiments are not duplicated Using the appropriate species of animal so that useful data is collected RAR moderates a tissue sharing program to help investigators minimize the need for live animals for experiments. Replacement whenever possible Refinement means refining experimental protocols to minimize pain or distress whenever possible. This concept is addressed in numerous questions throughout the Animal Usage Form . That is, if the necessary information can be gathered before the animal experiences any ill effects from the experiment, this should be defined as the endpoint and the animal subsequently euthanized.