How 3 Rs Shape Lab Animal Ethics Today

Every year, 100 to 200 million vertebrates are used in research worldwide—but 95% of them (mice and rats) aren't protected by the Animal Welfare Act. This episode unpacks the real regulatory landscape: the three Rs framework (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), how IACUC oversight actually works, what enriched housing looks like for rats, and why zebrafish have become a research powerhouse. We explore the ethical tradeoffs that refinement can't fully resolve and why good welfare isn't just moral—it produces better science.