New Graduate Course Provides Fully Animal-Free Biology Education

Study in a Sentence: Researchers developed and successfully piloted a graduate-level laboratory course using fully animal-free materials and methods, providing an ethical and scientifically rigorous model for modern biological education.

Healthy for Humans: For decades, biology research and education have relied on animal-derived materials, such as serums, enzymes, and antibodies. Beyond the ethical concerns of obtaining these materials from cow fetuses, pigs, rats, rabbits, and other animals, they also introduce variability and nonhuman elements into experiments. Animal-free alternatives offer a more consistent, ethical, and human-relevant approach to research.

Redefining Research: A newly developed laboratory course provides students with hands-on experience in fully animal-free experimental methods. The curriculum demonstrates that eliminating animal-derived materials does not compromise scientific rigor or educational quality, and is available in a detailed, open-access protocol for other educators to implement.