What is the study of what the body does to a drug, including absorption and metabolism?

The study of what the body does to a drug, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, is known as pharmacokinetics. This field of study focuses on the movement of drugs within the body and how various factors influence these processes.

Understanding pharmacokinetics is crucial for laboratory animal technologists because it helps in tailoring drug dosages and assessing the safety and efficacy of therapeutic interventions in animal models. By knowing how quickly a drug is absorbed into the bloodstream, its peak concentration, how it's metabolized by the liver, and how it's eventually excreted, researchers can make informed decisions about drug administration protocols and evaluate the overall impact of drugs on different animal species.

Pharmacodynamics, on the other hand, examines how drugs affect the body, focusing on drug-receptor interactions and the physiological effects. Pharmacogenomics looks at how genetic variations affect an individual's response to drugs, while toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals and drugs on living organisms. Each of these fields contributes to our understanding of drug action and safety, but they address different aspects compared to pharmacokinetics.