Where do babies come from? Elementary mammalian reproductive biology. 1400-121SBD-OG

The following topics will be covered during the lecture:

1. Introduction. Various ways of reproducing living organisms. What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction? What is iso- and anisogamy? Main mechanisms and concepts related to reproductive biology.
2. Mechanism of sex determination. Puberty.
3. The process of creating female and male germ cells. The mechanism of action of hormonal contraception.
4. Fertilization and initial stages of development of a mammalian embryo (until implantation). Where do identical twins come from?
5. In vitro fertilization and other assisted reproductive techniques. Applications in medicine and animal husbandry.
6. The mechanism of embryo implantation in the uterus. The formation of the placenta and its functions. How do serological conflict and fetal-maternal microchimerism arise?
7. Post-implantation development of mammalian embryos and its disorders. Prenatal diagnosis.
8. Regulation of labor and puerperium. Where does 'baby blues' come from?
9. Structure of mammary glands and regulation of lactation.
10. Reproductive system disorders: endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, oligozoospermia, impotence.
11. Cancers of the reproductive system and breast - mechanisms of formation, therapies, prognosis. Teratomas.
12. The influence of age on the fertility of women and men. Aging and the quality of germ cells. Menopause and andropause.
13. The impact of environmental pollution (e.g. bisphenols) and lifestyle (e.g. diet, alcohol) on female and male fertility. DOHaD hypothesis (Developmental Origin of Health and Disease).
14. The future of reproductive biology and medicine: in vitro gamete formation, in vitro post-implantation embryo development (will an artificial uterus be created?), Modification of the embryo genome (eg CRISPR / Cas technique).
15. Sex-transmitted diseases.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Remote learning

Course coordinators

Anna Ajduk

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student will:

• know and understand selected facts and phenomena related to the biology of mammalian reproduction (sex determination, gamete formation, fertilization and embryonic development, hormonal regulation of reproduction and its disorders, the influence of the environment on fertility, mechanisms of reproductive system disorders) and the methods and theories relating to them explaining the relationship between them; the scope of issues includes basic knowledge of reproductive biology and selected detailed issues in this field (P5S_WZ)

• be able to communicate with the public using specialized terminology in the field of reproductive biology - receive moderately complex statements, create not too complex statements using specialized terminology (P5S_UK)

• present and justify their own position on issues related to the reproduction of mammals, including humans (P5S_UK)

• analyze and assess your learning needs, use the available learning opportunities independently (P5S_UU)

• be ready to recognize the incompleteness and uncertainty of knowledge about reproductive biology (P5S_KK)

Assessment criteria

Written exam conducted on site.

Completion of the course - on the basis of a written exam. A student taking the exam will have to choose one of several questions proposed by the lecturer, not exceeding the scope of the subject, and answer it taking into account the most important facts mentioned during the course. During the examination, the student may use his own notes from the lectures.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1400-121SBD-OG in USOSweb