Research involving stress factors is permitted only when it causes no permanent alteration in the psychological or physical well-being of the animals. A letter from the mentor attesting to this approval is not sufficient. Students are prohibited from doing such research in a home environment, even if institutional housing is not available. The use of alcohol , acid rain, insecticide, herbicide, and heavy metal in toxicity or behavioral studies on live vertebrates is prohibited. Tissue culture, chicken embryos up to three days before hatching, and invertebrate studies are recommended as alternative models for testing.
Weight loss is one significant sign of stress or toxicity.
A death rate of 50 percent or greater in any group or subgroup, by design or as an unexpected result of experimental procedure is not permitted and the project will fail to qualify for competition. Appropriate measures must then be taken to correct the deficiency, toxicity, or drug effect, if such action is feasible. Experiments designed to kill vertebrate animals are not permitted. However, experimental designs incorporating humane euthanasia are permitted. Only the Animal Care Supervisor, Qualified Scientist, or the Designated Supervisor may perform euthanasia.