The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...

T h e e t h i c s o f r e s e a r c h i n v o l v i n g a n i m a l s
Glossary
Absolutism: <strong>The</strong> acceptance <strong>of</strong> or belief in absolute principles in political, philosophical, ethical,
or theological matters.
GLOSSARY
Ascites: <strong>The</strong> accumulation <strong>of</strong> fluid in the abdominal cavity causing swelling.
Adjuvant: A substance which enhances the body’s immune response to an antigen.
Adrenal cortex: Part <strong>of</strong> adrenal gland which is involved in making steroid hormones such as
cortisol.
Alternatives: An alternative is likely to mean an alternative method that does not involve using
an animal. This is the principle encompassed by UK and EU laws.
Amino acid: A molecule which serves as the building block <strong>of</strong> proteins. Proteins have different
characteristics as determined by the sequence <strong>of</strong> amino acids. Genes specify this sequence.
Anaesthesia: Artificially induced loss <strong>of</strong> consciousness or sensation.
Analgesia: <strong>The</strong> absence or relief <strong>of</strong> pain.
Analgesic: A pain relieving medicine.
Anaphylaxis: An extreme and <strong>of</strong>ten life-threatening immune reaction to an antigen, such as a
bee-sting, owing to hypersensitivity following an earlier exposure.
Antibody: A class <strong>of</strong> proteins made by the immune system which react with and neutralise specific
foreign antigens (any substance recognised by the immune system as ‘non-self’).
Antigen: A foreign substance or cell that triggers an immune response. Its capacity to produce an
immune response is referred to as its antigenicity.
Assay: the determination <strong>of</strong> the content or concentration <strong>of</strong> a substance.
Ataxia: An inability to coordinate muscular movements.
Autoimmune disorder: A malfunction <strong>of</strong> the immune system in which it responds against
substances and cells naturally present in the body (<strong>of</strong> <strong>animals</strong> or humans).
Base pair: A pair <strong>of</strong> complementary components (called bases) in the two opposing strands <strong>of</strong>
DNA.
Basic <strong>research</strong>: Research with the primary purpose <strong>of</strong> advancing scientific knowledge about the
way <strong>animals</strong> behave, develop, or function. Also known as ‘blue-sky’ or ‘curiosity-driven’ <strong>research</strong>.
Bioavailability: <strong>The</strong> degree or rate at which a drug or other substance is absorbed and becomes
available at its site <strong>of</strong> action in the body after administration.
Biopharmaceutical: Medicinal drugs produced by biotechnology.
Blastocyst: A very early stage embryo.
Carcinogenicity: Capacity <strong>of</strong> a substance to cause cancer.
Cell: <strong>The</strong> structural and functional unit <strong>of</strong> which organisms consist.
Cell line: A population <strong>of</strong> cells that can proliferate indefinitely in a culture dish.
Cell culture: Cells maintained in a culture dish.
Cetaceans: Order <strong>of</strong> marine mammal which comprises whales and dolphins.
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