Update
on named biology qualifications June 2006:
The profiles for the following named qualifications:
B16:
BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences with Biology
B28: BSc (Hons) Life Sciences
D48: Diploma in Biological Sciences
E05: Diploma in Life Sciences
include
the following courses:
SXR270:
Investigative Biology
Compulsory
course for BSc (Hons) Life Sciences, Diploma in Life Sciences
Specified course for BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences with Biology,
Diploma in Biological Sciences
The residential
school programme consists of three themes. Each student is
required to take part in all three of these themes. Theme
2 (Energy) uses material from animal tissue prepared by technical
staff. This is "a small amount of rat tissue" in
the study of cell respiration. The other remaining animal
experiment involves the killing of caterpillars to study the
transport of substances across gut cell membranes. Computer
simulations have been available for these experiments for
many years.
SXR374: Fat - The Physiology of Adipose Tissue
Specified
course for BSc (Hons) Life Sciences, BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences
with Biology, Diploma in Life Sciences, Diploma in Biological
Sciences
Experiments
are carried out using rat tissue. The course description states
that students are not expected to opt out of these experiments
and that no alternatives are provided.
SXR376: Molecular Basis for Human Disease
Specified
course for BSc (Hons) Life Sciences, BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences
with Biology, Diploma in Life Sciences, Diploma in Biological
Sciences
Investigation
is carried out into how variation or mutation at the gene
level affects protein function. From the course description
it is not clear whether animal cells or tissue are used. A
query about this elicited the following response from Dr Christine
Gardener:
SXR376
is a laboratory based course investigating several aspects
of infectious disease.
This
course does not use living animals, or tissues isolated
from living animals, either to prepare the course or during
the experimental work.
During
the laboratory week, protein and DNA will be extracted from
cells that have been cultured in vitro using standard cell
culture techniques and reagents. The cells being used are
immortalised cell lines of human and non-human origin. The
nutrients used to culture these cells are supplied by synthetic
liquid media supplemented with commercially available growth
factors that are derived from animal serum. A number of
animal-derived and bacteria-derived biological molecules
(e.g. antibodies) will also be used in the experimental
work.
SXR375: Plants, Pigments and Light
Specified
course for BSc (Hons) Life Sciences, BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences
with Biology, Diploma in Life Sciences, Diploma in Biological
Sciences
The residential
week consists of a laboratory-based practical project, learning
the methods and principles of investigation into the biochemistry
of plant pigments and photosynthesis.
The inclusion
of this course means that, provided you have taken the discontinued
S328 Ecology, it is possible to acquire the
named Life Sciences degree without harmful animal use: by
taking SXR270 and asking to opt out of the
animal experiments, and taking SXR375. Students
have been allowed to opt out of animal experiments in SXR270/SXR204
(predecessor to SXR270).
The University policy on teaching and research involving
animals states:
"Courses
which require work with animal tissues are clearly identified
as such on the courses website, and students not wishing
to do such work are advised to make alternative course choices."
However
the definition of biological tissue is an aggregation of morphologically
similar cells and associated intercellular matter acting together
to perform one or more specific functions in the body. There
are four basic types of tissue: muscle, nerve, epidermal,
and connective. Thus a course (for example SXR376) may use
animal cells, but not animal tissue and this will not be made
clear in the course description.
In 1999
the EU advisory body the European Centre for the Validation
of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) recommended that:
"...everyone
involved in education and training, and especially lecturers
and students, should have access to comprehensive information
about alternatives"
and:
"Students
wishing to participate in exercises that use animals should
be required to opt in, rather than the current opt-out system..."
Further information
See www.open.ac.uk/science/biosci/contact/index.htm
for a list of the members of the University's Biology department
with contact details and who to contact for enquiries about
particular courses.
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