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‘Good welfare is good science,’ the saying goes. But how do researchers, veterinarians, and animal care staff refine the lives of their laboratory animals?
Animal welfare concerns, reduced flight options and increased costs are pushing researchers to consider shipping frozen sperm and embryos rather than live mice.
After a genetic revolution in the 80s, mice overtook rats as the laboratory animal of choice for many researchers. But in recent years, the gene editing capabilities that had lagged a little for the larger rodent have been coming up to par with their murine cousins. Is a return to rats on the way?
Tissue clearing methods let researchers see inside their animal models. However, there are a lot of options out there. Which to choose can depend on your question.
Animals are regular inhabitants of the International Space Station, but the knowledge they reveal doesn’t just end with their missions. Open science efforts are democratizing space science and helping researchers around the world understand what animal models of spaceflight can reveal about spending time among the stars.
A look at viral surveillance and how researchers and veterinarians identify what animals may be susceptible to different viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
