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.