Offered
Clayton First semester (extended) 2008 (Day)
Synopsis
This unit provides students with skills and experience in practical and statistical techniques essential in a human IVF laboratory. Basic laboratory skills, good laboratory practice, introductory mammalian embryology, embryo culture procedures, media composition and fixation and staining of embryos are presented within the context of quality control in IVF programs. These competencies are enhanced with training in: handling of the egg and early embryo to ensure the production of good quality IVF embryos; techniques required for the cryopreservation of gametes and resultant embryos for storage. All these skills are essential components of a successful clinical human IVF program.
Objectives
On completion of this unit, students will:
- be familiar with the application of the statistics used to analyse data generated from embryological and IVF research;
- have a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of the practical techniques to be learnt;
- have gained some knowledge about the nuclear transfer and nuclear recycling systems used ion cloning embryonic and somatic cells form animals;
- be competent in basic laboratory skills, such as: carrying out dilutions, calculating the concentration of a solution, determining the molarity of a solution, using a microscope, using a centrifuge, and in the identification of the microscopic structure of the early embryo;
- competently demonstrate skills in preparing simple and complex media for in vitro culture and co-culture systems;
- have shown the ability to select good from bad quality embryos based on morphological and metabolic characteristics;
- shown competence in handling oocytes and embryos and in the technique of oocyte maturation, assisted hatching and embryo biopsy;
- have the skills to perform IVF competently;
- be skilled in the techniques of sperm, embryo and the ovarian tissue cryopreservation.
Assessment
Demonstration of practical competence in techniques: 100%
Contact hours
18 weeks (1.5 days laboratory sessions each week, 3 hours tutorial on laboratory procedures and safety, 9 hours on statistical methods and 12 hours videos, discussions, technical demonstrations over the semester
