cellular biology, biochemistry, microscopy, reproduction, conservation biology

WHAT WE DO

Key Points:

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) depend on a thorough understanding of cellular processes in sperm, eggs, and embryos.

Detailed Description:

The FIRE Fertility Science stream will investigate how cellular processes contribute to fertility challenges.

Our lab will focus on understanding the mechanisms behind sperm metabolism, motility, and cryopreservation, with applications for wildlife conservation, livestock management, and human medicine.

WHY IT MATTERS

Key Points:

Understanding how reproduction is successful in a domestic model species can assist conservation efforts for populations of animals that are at risk of population decline or extinction in the wild.

Detailed Description:

When endangered wildlife is brought into captivity, the focus on reproduction is centered around the successful production of offspring.

In livestock species, techniques like in vitro fertilization and embryo culture are common - and possible - due to the knowledge gained from extensive husbandry practices. In wildlife species that would benefit from these procedures, we do not know enough about their reproductive biology to implement these techniques successfully. Instead, assisted reproduction relies on the cryopreservation of sperm cells and artificial insemination.

More in vitro techniques would be possible for these animals if had a more clear understanding of the molecular processes of gametic cells (sperm and eggs). For this reason, FIRE Fertility Science investigates the correlation between sperm metabolism and function.

WHAT YOU LEARN

Key Points:

In this stream, students utilize the scientific method to read and understand scholarly literature.
Research projects center around metabolic and functional assays, such as ATP quantification, motility measures, and immunofluorescent staining.
Students gain experience in general laboratory and analytical techniques commonly used in reproductive research.

Detailed Description:

Our lab seeks to understand how culture conditions affect sperm function. As part of the FIRE Fertility Science stream, students learn how to set up experiments designed to test a hypothesis, generate and analyze meaningful data sets, and perform a wide variety of laboratory techniques that are both specific to reproductive science and broadly applicable to other biological fields of study.