Innovative Technology Enables Research Without Animal Testing

3-D: Short for three-dimensional, this adjective describes an object that has height, width, and length.

Animal Models: Non-human animals that assist researchers during experiments. These animals are used in laboratories due to their anatomical or physiological similarities to humans.

Animal Welfare: The concept that evaluates the quality of life experienced by animals. Good animal welfare implies that animals are healthy, safe, comfortable, and able to express their natural behaviors.

Artificial Intelligence: Refers to machines or computers that can make decisions based on knowledge. It encompasses areas of research aimed at developing machines or software that can perform intelligent tasks.

Aspirin: A well-known over-the-counter medication, also referred to as acetylsalicylic acid. It has been used for more than a century to alleviate headaches, muscle pain, toothaches, and to reduce fever and inflammation. Historical texts indicate that Sumerians and Egyptians utilized willow bark (the source of aspirin’s active ingredient) for pain relief over five thousand years ago.

Biology: The study of living organisms, conducted by scientists known as biologists.

Computed Tomography Scans: Commonly referred to as CT scans, these specialized X-ray scans provide cross-sectional images of bones or other internal tissues.

Cell: (in biology) The smallest unit of an organism, typically consisting of a liquid surrounded by a membrane. Depending on their size, animals can comprise thousands to trillions of cells.

Chemicals: Substances formed from two or more atoms that bond in fixed ratios and structures. For instance, water is a chemical created from two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, represented by the formula H₂O. Chemicals also describe the properties of materials resulting from reactions between different compounds.

Chronicity: Refers to conditions, like long-lasting illnesses or persistent symptoms such as pain.

Compounds: Often used interchangeably with chemicals, a compound is a substance formed when two or more elements bond in a fixed ratio. For example, water is composed of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom, denoted as H₂O.

Computer Chip: Also known as integrated circuits, these components process and store information within computers.

Congress: A part of the U.S. federal government responsible for writing laws, establishing budgets, confirming presidential appointments, representing U.S. interests abroad, and managing administrative agencies.

COVID-19: The disease that became a global pandemic in 2020, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, first identified in 2019. Symptoms may include pneumonia, breathing difficulties, fatigue, fever, headaches, and blood clotting issues.

Standard: A criterion or benchmark used to evaluate or judge something.

Culture: (in microbiology) The process of growing cells outside their natural environment, typically in a laboratory setting. Maintaining cell health requires proper nutrients, enough space for growth, and suitable temperatures.

Database: An organized collection of related data.

Develop: To appear or become present either naturally or through human actions, such as manufacturing. In biology, it refers to the growth of an organism from conception to maturity, often involving various changes.

Development: (in biology) The process where an organism grows from conception to adulthood, often accompanied by changes in size, chemistry, and sometimes shape.

Gravity: The force that attracts anything with mass toward other masses; the larger the mass, the greater the gravitational force.

Heart Attack: Permanent damage to heart tissue that occurs when blood flow is obstructed, leading to oxygen deprivation.

Immune System: A network of cells and reactions in the body that protect against infections and manage foreign substances that could cause allergies.

Kidney: Organs in mammals that filter blood and produce urine.

Liver: Vital organs in vertebrates responsible for numerous functions, including energy storage, detoxifying harmful substances, and secreting bile to aid digestion.

Machine Learning: A subset of computer science that enables machines to learn from data and experiences. It’s foundational for various artificial intelligence applications, such as analyzing medical images to predict treatment outcomes.

Model: A representation of actual events or processes, often using computers to predict outcomes or demonstrate functionality.

Molecule: A neutral group of atoms that represents a specific quantity of a compound. Molecules can consist of a single element or a combination of different elements. For example, oxygen in the atmosphere is O₂, while water is H₂O.

NASA: Short for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, founded in 1958, it leads in space exploration and research, responsible for sending humans to orbit and the Moon, as well as conducting studies of various celestial bodies.

National Institutes of Health (or NIH): One of the largest biomedical research organizations globally, comprising 21 independent laboratories and six centers, including the National Cancer Institute, primarily located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Nerve: Long, delicate fibers that transmit signals throughout the body. Many nerves are found in the backbone, controlling movements and conveying sensations like temperature and pain.

Network: An interconnected assembly of people or entities.

Organ: (in biology) Distinct parts of an organism, each performing specific functions. For example, the ovaries produce eggs, the brain processes nerve signals, and plant roots absorb nutrients and water.

Pandemic: The widespread outbreak of diseases affecting a large section of the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic, declared on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization, is among the most notable recent pandemics.

Parkinson’s Disease: A neurological disorder that leads to tremors and affects mobility, memory, and mood. Genetic factors may increase susceptibility, and there is currently no cure.

Rodent: Mammals from the Order Rodentia, encompassing species such as mice, rats, squirrels, guinea pigs, hamsters, and porcupines.

Side Effects: Unintended consequences or harm resulting from a procedure or treatment.

Simulate: To imitate or replicate a particular function or condition. For example, simulated fats can trick the taste buds into perceiving real fats without containing calories. Similarly, synthetic limbs can create touch sensations that deceive the brain into perceiving actual contact.

Stem Cells: Undifferentiated “blank slate” cells capable of developing into various cell types in the body, playing a crucial role in tissue regeneration and repair.

System: A structured network of components that work collaboratively to achieve specific functions. For instance, the human circulatory system includes blood, blood vessels, and the heart. Likewise, a country’s railway system comprises tracks, signals, and trains.

Technology: The application of scientific principles for practical purposes, leading to the creation of devices, processes, and systems.

Treatment: (adj. Therapeutic) Approaches aimed at alleviating or curing ailments.

Organization: Composed of cells that form distinct materials in animals, plants, or fungi. Tissues within organisms perform specific functions using different types of cells.

Toxicity: (adj. Toxic) A measure of the potential harm certain substances can inflict on living organisms, which may not manifest immediately and can take time depending on the dosage and type of organism.

Unique: Referring to something distinctive or one-of-a-kind.

Vaccine: (v. Vaccination) A biological preparation resembling disease-causing agents, administered to stimulate immunity against specific diseases. The administration method is known as vaccination.

Virtual: Something that closely resembles reality but is not entirely so. Often refers to models or concepts created using computational methods rather than physical materials. In computing, it can refer to processes or events conducted digitally, such as virtual meetings that take place over the internet.

Virus: Small infectious agents composed of genetic material (RNA or DNA) encased in proteins. Viruses replicate by invading host cells, leading to discussions among scientists about their status as living or non-living entities.