Leader: Associate Professor Mark Hedger

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides students with a theoretical and practical background to the reproductive endocrinology. Information about the general organisation and regulation of the reproductive endocrine system will be taught. The hormones produces by the pituitary, hypothalamus, ovary and testis and their respective interactions will be studies, together with their regulation and mode of action. The role of growth factors also will be considered. Students also will learn basic laboratory skills and their relation to tissue culture, the statistics used to analyse data in reproductive endocrinology, and the ethical considerations requires in human and animal experimentation. The unit is important for providing understanding of scientific investigation and for students gaining the ability to critically evaluated developments in the reproductive sciences.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will have:

1. acquired the basic theoretical background and practical knowledge about the components of the reproductive endocrine system;
2. become familiar with current concepts relating to animal and human ethics, laboratory safety, use of library facilities and critical analysis of scientific journals;
3. experience in current laboratory skills associated with research in reproductive biology;
4. gained knowledge about, and experience in, the appropriate use of statistics to analyse data in reproductive science;
5. demonstrated skills in report writing and the presentation of scientific data.

Assessment

Open-book written examination (1.5 hours): 50%
3 written practical reports: 50%

Contact hours

This unit is conducted over six weeks in the first semester. For the first five weeks, students are required to attend lectures and practical session. It is expected that all students, including part-time students, attend all the lectures and practical classes from Week 1 to Week 6 inclusive.