Opting out of animal based eductional experiments

Opting out of Animal Experiments

THE issue of harmful animal experimentation in education is a controversial one, with strong views both in favour and against.

OUSA-affiliated society Students for Ethical Science (SES) believe that

such experiments are unnecessary, and
the issue should be openly debated in all educational institutions which provide biology-/life science-related courses.

Information about alternatives and the permissibility of opting out are not provided by the Open University, despite recommendations in 1999 by EU advisory body the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) 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...'

The Open University Students' Association (OUSA) has for many years passed conference motions advocating a similar approach, and continues to support such policies. For example, an early OUSA policy, B26.4, stated:

'This Association notes the University's assurances that no student's academic assessment will be adversely affected by their non-participation in animal experiments and urges the University to include a formal statement to that effect in future editions of the Student Handbook.' (1991 93M)

Fourteen years later, there is still no reference to the right to opt out, either in the OU's paper publications or on its website.

It therefore continues to fall to concerned students, graduates and staff to provide this information - vital for enabling students to make informed decisions in their course choices. We also have to make up for the university's failure to provide full information about its animal use.

Harmful Animal Experiments at OU Residential Schools and alternatives

Rats
These are killed to provide tissue for the study of cellular respiration. Plant material could be used instead, and there are computer simulations available for this experiment, for example 'Cellular Respiration' from Sheffield Bioscience Programs. The OU was able to provide this for a conscientious objector in 1995 (course S203 - the predecessor to S204/SXR270).

OU students asking to opt out of using animal tissue on SXR270 have been accommodated.

A detailed protocol is available for the use of turnips instead of rat liver: Vicente, J.A.F. and Madeira, V.M.C. (2000) The excellence of turnip mitochondrial fractions, Biochemical Education 28 pp. 104-6.

The Open University has finally conceded that plant material can be used instead of rat liver to provide purified mitochondria for the other former rat-killing experiment in this course, and rats have stopped being used for that experiment.

Caterpillars
The other animal experiment in SXR270 involves the killing of Manduca moth caterpillars to study the transport of substances across gut cell membranes. Again, there are computer-simulation alternatives available, such as PCCAL International's 'Intestinal Absorption'.

SXR373

This course uses locusts to study the biochemistry of their leg and flight muscles. This requires the removal of limbs from their bodies. However, there is no reason why animal tissue must be used to perform the biochemical lab
techniques involved.
The experiment involving the observation of contraction in isolated, functioning myofibrils can be replaced with a widely-used computer simulation program such as 'Muscle Physiology' produced by Sheffield Bioscience.

Full details of the animal-free experiments referred to in this leaflet (plus many others) can be obtained via some of the websites in our 'links' section.

SXR374

This school is based on experiments on adipose (fat) tissue from rats. This area of study appears to be a somewhat idiosyncratic OU phenomenon, existing perhaps due to the OU's Dr Caroline Pond's long-standing interest in adipose tissue. This is probably why there has not been an emphasis on developing humane alternatives. SES's advice to students objecting to the harming of animals is to avoid this course. Those wanting to take a residential school course complementary to courses S324 and/or S327 could take SXR373 and request animal-free alternatives. However, SES is unaware of anyone having tried this.

Current OUSA policy on OU animal use

Policy 2003/33
This Association recognises that many students do not wish to take part in experiments involving the use of animals or specifically killed tissue. It calls upon the University to:

a)	provide sufficient details about such experiments in the Course Description brochure for students to be able to make an informed choice,
b)	provide formal alternatives for students where such experiments take place and ensure these alternatives are freely available and published in course material,
c)	take steps to reduce the numbers of animals needed by replacement with viable alternatives e.g. computer simulations,
d)	explore ways in which these alternatives may be implemented and expanded,
e)	ensure that no student's academic assessment is affected by refusal to participate and such a statement is placed in the Student Handbook,
f)	ensure that the remit of the Animal Ethical Committee allows for adequate discussion,
g)	implement these changes as soon as possible.

Policy 2003/34
This Association recognises that the University may wish to continue to provide experiments using animal tissue.
It calls upon the University to ensure that any such tissue is ethically sourced, e.g. not from purpose-bred or purpose-killed animals.

Dealing with Resistance to your Requests for Alternatives
Turn the discussion around. ECVAM state: "Teachers should be aware of potential alternatives and should be required to justify their continued use of animals."

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rev 1.004/03Feb05