Lesson 19 - Embryo Transfer

Lesson Title Lesson 19 - Embryo Transfer Student Learning Objectives As a result of this lesson, the student will: 1. Be able to define embryo transfer. 2. Be able to describe how the embryo transfer process is done. 3. Analyze the benefits and limitations of utilizing embryo transfer. Time Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes. Resources • Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert E. Taylor • Biology The Dynamics of Life, Biggs, Kapicka, and Lundgren • http://www.agtechinc.com/overview/ • http://www.etschool.com/ Tools, Equipment, and Supplies • Overhead Projector/Computer with Projector • 1 Copy Per Student of Embryo Transfer Quiz • Transparencies or PowerPoint of slides 2-6 • 5 Jelly Beans – Per group of 3 • 5 Gummy Worms – Per group of 3 • 5 Cheap White Paper Plates – Per group of 3 • 1 Nice Quality Colored paper plate – Per group of 3 Key Terms Embryo Transfer Super Ovulation Interest Approach Divide your class into groups of three and give each group 5 jelly beans, 5 gummy worms, 5 cheap white paper plates and one higher quality colored paper plate. You are going to have them imagine that all 6 paper plates represent the reproductive tracts of 6 different cows. The jelly beans are to be eggs and the worms are to be sperm. You will have the group put all of the eggs into the higher quality colored paper plate and then have the sperm unite with the eggs. Once “embryos” are formed you are going to move the entire embryo from the one cow to the other 5 recipient cows, leaving the donor with no embryos. This demonstrates very well how embryo transfer works in real life. Hello class! Today we are going to introduce our lesson with an activity. I am going to divide you into groups of three. After I pick the groups I will say go. You then have 10 seconds to find a seat with your groups and pay attention to the rest of the directions. Pick Groups. GO. O.K. Here are the rest of the directions. I am passing out to each group 5 jelly beans, 5 gummy worms, 5 white plates and 1 colored plate. Once you have all of your materials, I want you to spread your plates out and pretend that each plate represents a reproductive tract of 6 different cows. Does everyone have their plates spread out? Good. Now place all 5 jelly beans in the one cow represented by the colored plate and pretend that these are all eggs. Does everyone have their eggs in one cow? Great, now fertilize your eggs in this one cow with your gummy worm sperm. Now that your eggs are fertilized take each embryo and implant it in a different recipient cow, leaving your donor cow with no embryos. This means you should have one egg and sperm in 5 different plates, leaving the original plate empty. Does anyone know what this activity represents? Correct, embryo transfer. That leads us to today’s findings. Do not eat your project yet, as we will be using it later. Summary of Content and Teaching Strategies Objective 1. Be able to define what embryo transfer is. Show slides 2-3. Have students record their knowledge on the “Basics of Embryo Transfer” notes page throughout the day. I. What is embryo transfer? 1. Embryo Transfer – This procedure is when an embryo in its early development is transferred from its own mother to a recipient mother. 2. Genetic progress is achieved fairly quickly with artificial insemination A. AI limits progress to male side of genetic contribution B. Embryo transfer allows each a cow to produce many offspring and offers more rapid genetic gain. Great! Now that you all know what embryo transfer is let’s find out how it is done. Objective 2. Be able to describe how the embryo transfer process is done. Show slides 4-5 II. How is embryo transfer done? 1. The process of cattle embryo transfer begins by selecting a genetically outstanding, well-nourished, non pregnant embryo donor (heifer or cow). At the same time, 10 to 15 non pregnant females (embryo recipients) are identified. 2. Super ovulation – The donor cow is super ovulated by using injectable hormones. An average donor in cattle produces 6 transferable embryos. However 0-25 embryos can be expected. 3. Insemination – Cattle that are super ovulated are heat detected and inseminated at both 12 and 24 hours after heat with two straws of semen. 4. After 7 days, the embryos have developed into a transferable state. 5. When the 7 days are up, a special solution is pushed into the reproductive tract of the donor and the embryos are washed out of her. 6. The solution that comes out of the tract is taken into a laboratory and searched for embryos. 7. The embryos can be freshly transferred into another cow that is in the same part of her cycle as the donor or they can be frozen. Now that you all have learned the embryo transfer process, when I say go, I want you to get back in your original groups and go through the process with the supplies I have given you. I will come around and have each group demonstrate embryo transfer to me step by step. Go, you have 3 minutes before I will evaluate your jellybean and gummy worm embryo transfer. Evaluate each group on the 7 steps listed above and answer any questions. Good, everyone did excellent! Objective 3. Analyze the benefits and limitations of utilizing embryo transfer. Show slides 6-8 and remind students to record information on “Basics of Embryo Transfer” notes page. III. IV. V. What are the benefits of embryo transfer? A. To produce more offspring from a valuable dam. B. Some infertility problems can be avoided. C. Prevents disease transmission D. Reproduce some endangered species faster than normally possible. What are the limitations of embryo transfer? A. Decreases genetic diversity B. Decreased diversity often leads to mutations C. Expensive and time consuming procedure Who is this practical for? 1. Seed stock producers 2. An animal of genetic superiority whose offspring is demanded by the industry. Review/Summary. For your assignment for today I want you to summarize today’s findings by making a brochure on embryo transfer. I want you to pretend that you are a company specializing in embryo transfer. Make sure you include a description on what embryo transfer is, the procedure that you will use, and why a producer might want to utilize embryo transfer. You will be graded individually on this project. You have the rest of today’s period. The rest of the assignment will be completed for homework. Application Extended classroom activity The brochure activity used in the review. FFA activity On an FFA trip schedule a tour at a facility specializing in embryo transfer. SAE activity Have students evaluate the best animal in their herd and describe why they would like more calves out of her if embryo transfer technology was more feasible. Define embryo transfer: The Basics of Embryo Transfer Record the process of embryo transfer in the following table Step Draw a picture here that represents this step. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Step Description The process of cattle embryo transfer begins by selecting a genetically outstanding, wellnourished, non pregnant embryo donor (heifer or cow). At the same time, 10 to 15 non pregnant females (embryo recipients) are identified. Super ovulation – The donor cow is super ovulated by using injectable hormones. An average donor in cattle produces 6 transferable embryos. However 0-25 embryos can be expected. Insemination – Cattle that are super ovulated are heat detected and inseminated at both 12 and 24 hours after heat with two straws of semen. After 7 days, the embryos have developed into a transferable state. When the 7 days are up, a special solution is pushed into the reproductive tract of the donor and the embryos are washed out of her. The solution that comes out of the tract is taken into a laboratory and searched for embryos. The embryos can be freshly transferred into another cow that is in the same part of her cycle as the donor or they can be frozen.