title: Working with laboratory animals: general principles and practical considerations.
abstract: Laboratory animals play an indispensable role in research discovery and technological advances, and they will continue to yield basic, exciting, and prodigious information that can enrich the future of people and other animals. For both ethical and scientific reasons, all-individuals whose work requires the use of laboratory animals must take the time to conduct a thorough review of the literature to determine what animal models are available and which are the most relevant, and they must learn and understand the uniqueness of the selected species, breed, and strain. Scientists have the privilege, but not the right, to use animals as experimental subjects. This privilege must not be abused. Therefore, it is imperative that before working with any laboratory animal, you know your "subject."
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D017087:Animal Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000662:veterinary; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D014481:United States; D016885:United States Department of Agriculture; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration