VERTEBRATE ANIMALS RULES

Rules involving vertebrate animals

 The following rules were developed to help pre-college student researchers adhere to the federal regulations
governing professional scientist and to protect the welfare of both animal subjects and the student researcher.
Health and well-being is of high priority when students conduct research with animal subjects.
Society for Science strongly endorses the use of non-animal research methods and encourages students to
use alternative to animal research, which must be explored and discussed in the research plan.

If researchers are using animals in research they most include the following “Four R’s” :
• Replace – vertebrate animals with invertebrates lower life forms, tissue/cell culture and/or computer
simulations where possible.
• Reduce – the number of animals without compromising statistical validity.
• Refine – the experimental protocol to minimize pain or distress to the animals.
• Respect – animals and their contribution to research.

All project involving vertebrate animals must adhere to the rules for all vertebrate animals studies AND to the
either Section A or section b rules, depending on the nature of the study and the research site

Vertebrate animals, as covered by these rules, are difined as:

1. Live, nonhuman vertebrate mammalian embryos or fetuses.
2. Tadpoles
3. Bird and reptile eggs starting three days(72 hours) prior to hatching.
4. All other nonhuman vertebrates (including fish) at hatching or birth.
 RULES FOR ALL
VERTEBRATE ANIMAL
STUDIES
1. All vertebrate animal studies must have a research plan that includes:
a. Justification why animals must be used, reason why you choose it, the source and how many animals can
be used, identification of alternative to animal use that were considered, reason these alternatives were
unacceptable: potential impact.
b. Description of how many the animals will be used. Includes methods and procedures, such as
experimental design and data analysis: procedure that will minimize the discomfort, distress, pain and injury.
During experimentation, identification of species, sex, age, weight, source and number of animals to be use.

2. All vertebrate animal studies must be reviewed and approved before experimentation begins. Like IACUC and
SRC

3. Students performing vertebrate animal research must satisfy US federal law as well as local, state, and
country laws and regulations of the jurisdiction in which research is performed.

4. Research project which cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress are prohibited. Any illness or
unexpected weight loss must be investigated and a veterinarian consulted to receive required medical care.
Most be documented by the Qualified Scientist or Designated supervisor. If stress if cause by the study it should
be terminated immediately.
5. No vertebrate animal deaths due to the experimental procedures are permitted in any group or subgroup.
a. Studies that are designed or anticipated to cause vertebrate animal death are prohibited.
b. Any death that occurs must be investigated by a veterinarian. The project must be suspended until the
cause is determined and the results must be documented in writing.
c. If death was the result of the experimental procedure, the study must be terminated, and the study will
not qualify for competition.

6. All animals must be monitored for signs of distress. Weight must be recorded at least weekly with 15% being
maximum permissible weight loss or growth retardation of any experimental or animal control. If cannot be
done in fashion that is safe, then an explanation or approval by an SRC or IACUC need to be need to be include
in the research plan.

7. Students are prohibited from designing or participating in an experiment associated with the following types
of studies on vertebrate animals:
a. Induced toxicity studies with known toxic substance that could cause pain, distress, or death.
b. Behavioral experiments using conditioning with aversive stimuli, mother/ infant separation or induced
helplessness.
c. Studies of pain
d. Predator/vertebrate prey experiments.
8. Justification is required for an experimental design that involves food or fluid restriction and must be
appropriate to the species. If the restriction exceeds 18 hours, the project must be reviewed and approved by an
IACUC and conducted at a Regulated Research Institution. (RRI)

9. Animals may not be captured from or released into the wild without approval of authorized wildlife or other
regulatory officials. All appropriate methods and precautions must be used to decrease stress.

10. A Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor must directly supervise all research involving vertebrate
animals, except for observational studies.

11. After Initial SRC approval, a student with any proposed changes in the Research Plan/Project Summary of the
project must repeat the approval process before laboratory experimentation/data collection resume.
 A. Additional Rules for Project
Conducted at School/Home/Field
 Vertebrate animal studies may be conducted at a home, school farm, ranch, in the field, etc. This includes:
1. Studies of animals in their natural environment.
2. Studies of animals in zoological parks.
3. Studies of livestock that use standard agricultural practices.
4. Studies of fish that use standard aquaculture practices.

1. These projects must adhere to BOTH of the following guidelines:

a. The research involves only agricultural, behavioral, observational or supplemental nutritional studies on
animals.
b. The research involves only non-invasive and non-intrusive methods that do not negatively affect an
animal’s health or well-being.

2. Animals must be treated kindly and cared for properly. Animals must be housed in a clean, ventilated,
comfortable environment appropriate for the species. They must be given a continuous, clean water and food
supply cages, pens and fish tanks must be cleaned frequently. Proper care must be provided at all times,
including weekends, holidays, and vacation periods.
• Federal Animal Welfare Regulation
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory animals
• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Ag-Guide)
• Quality Assurance Manuals (for the appropriate species)
3. The local or affiliated fair Scientific Review Committee must determine if a veterinarian’s certification of the
research and animal husbandry plan is required. This certification, as well as SRC approval, is required before
experimentation and is documented on Vertebrate Animal Form 5A.

4. If an illness or emergency occurs, the affected animal(s) must receive proper medical or nursing care that is
directed by a veterinarian. A student researcher must stop experimentation if there is unexpected weight loss
or death in the experimental subjects. It can only be resumed if the cause of illness or death is not related to
the experimental procedures. So the study will not be qualify for competition.

5. The final disposition of the animals must be conducted in a responsible and ethical manner, and must be
described on Vertebrate Animal Form 5A.

6. Euthanasia for tissue removal and/or pathological analysis is not permitted for a project conducted in a
school/home/field site.

7. Livestock or fish raised for food using standard agricultural/aquacultural production practices may be
euthanized by a qualified adult for carcass evaluation.

8. The following forms are required:

A. Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1), Student Checklist (1A), Research Plan/Project Summary, and Approval Form (1B)
B. Vertebrate Animal Form (5A)
C. Qualified Scientist Form (2), when applicable
B. Additional Rules for Projects
Conducted in a Regulated
Research Institution
1. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or the comparable animal oversight committee
must approve all student research projects before experimentation begins. Such research projects must be
conducted under the responsibility of a principal investigator. This local and regional SRC review should
occur before experimentation begins, if possible.

2. Student researchers are prohibited from performing euthanasia. Euthanasia at the end of experimentation
for tissue removal and/or pathological analysis is permitted. All methods of euthanasia must adhere to
current American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines.

3. Research project that cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to vertebrate animals are
prohibited unless mitigated by IACUC- approved anesthetics, analgesics and/or tranquilizers.

4. Research in nutritional deficiency or research involving substances or drugs of unknown effect is permitted
to the point that any clinical sign of distress is noted, in the case that distress is observed, the project must
be suspended and measures must be taken to correct the deficiency or drug effect. A project can only be
resumed if appropriate steps are taken to correct the causal factors.

5. The following forms are required:

A. Checklist for Adult Sponsors (1), student checklist (1A). Research Plan/Project summary, and approval
form(18)
b. Regulated Research Institution Form (1C)
c. Qualified Scientist Form (2)
d. Vertebrate Animal Form (5B)
e. PHBA Risk Assessment Form (6A) – for all studies involving tissues and body fluids.
f. Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form (6B)- for all studies involving tissue and body fluids.
 EXEMPT STUDIES (DO NOT
REQUIRE SRC PREAPPROVAL)
1. Studies involving behavioral observations of animals are exempt from prior SRC review if ALL
of the following apply:

a. There is no interaction with the animals being observed.

b. There is no manipulation of the animal environment in any way, and
c. The study meets all federal and state agriculture, fish, game and wildlife laws and
regulations.