Dr. Reichler's Bio 301M Spring 2010  Homework #5 due in class on W 4/7

If you attended class on W 3/31, then you did homework #5 in class, and you do NOT need to complete this assignment.

If you were NOT in class on W 3/31, this is your assignment for homework #5:

Answer one of the following questions (Please include which question you are answering.):

1)    You are a member of your institution’s animal care board.  A protocol is submitted in which a researcher plans to perform footpad injections in mice.  This technique was approved in the past, but in recent years its use has been denied because of the pain and irritation it causes the mice.  The investigator is denied permission for the use of this technique.  The investigator appeals, arguing that she has just arrived from an institution that allowed the use of this technique and that all of her previous data has been produced using it.  The investigator maintains that she must continue its use so that she can make valid comparisons to her previous data.  Do you approve the use of the footpad injection technique?  Why or why not?
Adapted from: Scientific Integrity: an Introductory Text with Cases, 2nd ed. (2000) F. L. Macrina, ASM Press, Wash., D.C.

2)    For which of these circumstances would it be acceptable to use rabbits as research subjects?
    Developing a new drug to treat cancer?
    Developing a new drug to treat juvenile diabetes?
    Developing new plastic surgery techniques?
    Testing the safety of a food additive?
    Testing the safety of a shampoo?
    Testing the safety of lipstick?
    Developing a drug to increase human height?

3)    For which of these circumstances would it be acceptable to use chimpanzees as research subjects?
    Developing a new drug to treat cancer?
    Developing a new drug to treat juvenile diabetes?
    Developing new plastic surgery techniques?
    Testing the safety of a food additive?
    Testing the safety of a shampoo?
    Testing the safety of lipstick?
    Developing a drug to increase human height?

4)    You are a member of UT's IACUC, and a researcher interested in the human physiological responses to stress has applied for permission to do the following experiment.  They will apply electric shocks to chimpanzees while collecting data such as blood samples, brain activity, gene expression changes, etc.  Would you vote to approve this research project?  Why or why not?

5)    A researcher needs to isolate some proteins from cow blood.  Each experiment will require the blood of 15 cows.  As a member of the IACUC, you have been asked to review the research plan.  The researcher plans to obtain the blood from a slaughterhouse.  What additional information might you want to make your decision?  Does the source of the cow blood impact your decision?  Do you vote to approve the project?  Why or why not?
Adapted from: Scientific Integrity: an Introductory Text with Cases, 2nd ed. (2000) F. L. Macrina, ASM Press, Wash., D.C.

6)    You are working on your Ph.D. in Dr. Franks' laboratory where you are using dogs to research treatments for rabies.  Dr. Franks has asked you to try a new procedure involving surgery on the dogs, but you know that the IACUC has not approved the procedure.  You ask Dr. Franks about this, and she replies that it does not pay to get the procedure approved if it will not be useful.  Her suggestion is for you to try the procedure, and if it looks promising, then you can submit the protocol for approval from the IACUC.  Is this a reasonable, logical approach?  What do you do?
Adapted from: Scientific Integrity: an Introductory Text with Cases, 2nd ed. (2000) F. L. Macrina, ASM Press, Wash., D.C.

7)    As part of your research you are using many rabbits.  The rabbits are eventually killed.  The local zoo wants to use the carcasses as food for its animals.  Is this ok?  Is your answer diffferent if you are using dogs?  What if instead of the zoo, it is a local boa constrictor breeder that wants to use the carcasses?
Adapted from: Scientific Integrity: an Introductory Text with Cases, 2nd ed. (2000) F. L. Macrina, ASM Press, Wash., D.C.

8)    In which of the following cases would it be appropriate to use mice in research?  What if cats were being used?
    In a high school teaching laboratory?
    In a high school science fair project?
    In a university teaching laboratory?
    In a medical school teaching laboratory?
Adapted from: Scientific Integrity: an Introductory Text with Cases, 2nd ed. (2000) F. L. Macrina, ASM Press, Wash., D.C.

9)    As part of a research study chimpanzees in the wild are being trapped and samples are taken. Occasionally one of the chimpanzees is killed to get more extensive data.  You sit on the board of an organization that has been asked to fund this research.  Do you vote to provide funding?  Would it matter what the goals of the research are?  What if the research is studying how diseases in chimpanzees might affect their carrying capacity?  What if the research is studying how diseases in chimpanzees might be transferred to humans?
Adapted from: Scientific Integrity: an Introductory Text with Cases, 2nd ed. (2000) F. L. Macrina, ASM Press, Wash., D.C.

10)    As a member of an IACUC, you are asked to review a research proposal.  As part of the research, animals will be injected with various chemicals.  Some of these chemicals may cause pain and/or death of the animals.  In the proposal the researchers state that there is a technique available using just animal cells, instead of whole animals.  The data using the cells will be equally valid, but the researchers do not want to use the cell technique because it is five times more expensive than using whole animals.  Do you approve the use of animals?  Why or why not?
Adapted from: Scientific Integrity: an Introductory Text with Cases, 2nd ed. (2000) F. L. Macrina, ASM Press, Wash., D.C.


Your homework should be a maximum of 4 pages and must be printed.  It is due on or before W 4/7.

Be certain to cite any outside sources that you use.  Using outside sources is fine, but not citing those sources is plagiarism.  This homework will be graded on a scale of 0-1 points.  I will subtract 0.2 points for each day late.

If you have any questions, please ask.