Wr. Boone et al., INSTRUCTING THE ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT IN HUMAN ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY, Journal of animal science, 73(8), 1995, pp. 2503-2506
Animal physiology graduate students provide an excellent personnel res
ource for laboratories performing human assisted reproductive technolo
gy (ART) procedures. However, the basic training of these students fal
ls short of what is required for this highly specialized field. We des
igned a course to enhance their education in this area via classroom a
nd hands-on laboratory instruction in a hospital and university settin
g. Topics covered in the course included in vitro maturation, in vitro
fertilization, embryo culture, embryo transfer, quality control, qual
ity assurance, micromanipulation, and cryopreservation. These techniqu
es were applied to a group project to evaluate the influence of sperma
tozoal quality and quantity on early embryonic development in cattle a
nd humans. Student grades were based on 1) oral and written examinatio
ns; 2) demonstrated competency in laboratory techniques; 3) presentati
on of class project data at a state academy of science meeting; and 4)
initiative, determination, and interest in the coursework. Three aspe
cts of the course stood out as very positive. First, the team approach
to accomplishing a class project was new to some of the graduate stud
ents. Second, a bond was formed between hospital- and university-based
faculty that did and will continue to foster unique teaching and rese
arch opportunities between the two groups. Third, the opportunity for
students to present research data in a formal setting was very rewardi
ng. This course made the students keenly aware of the many aspects of
ART and provided them with specialized skills that should make them mo
re marketable in the field of reproductive technology.