User:Z3288729

From Embryology

Lab 4 Online Assessment

  1. The allantois, identified in the placental cord, is continuous with what anatomical structure?
  2. Identify the 3 vascular shunts, and their location, in the embryonic circulation.
  3. Identify the Group project sub-section that you will be researching. (Add to project page and your individual assessment page)



Lab Attendance

--Z3288729 12:16, 28 July 2011 (EST)

--z3288729 11:12, 4 August 2011 (EST)

Lab One

Identify the origin of In Vitro Fertilization and the 2010 nobel prize winner associated with this technique.

In vitro fertilisation began in 1978 when Edwards RG successfully carried out the process. He won the nobel prize for his work in 2010.

Identify a recent paper on fertilisation and describe its key findings.

Actin, more than just a housekeeping protein at the scene of fertilization.

This research project looked into the role of actin in fertilisation. It was found that it is an important molecule, significant in modulation of fertilisation. The rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton of a fertilised egg plays a role in allowing only one sperm to enter the cell. [1]


Identify 2 congenital anomalies.

Ectrodactyly- a lack of one or more digits of the hand or foot

Spina Bifida- incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube

Lab Two

Identify the ZP protein that spermatozoa binds and how is this changed (altered) after fertilization.

zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 (ZP3) acts as a sperm receptor. [2]. ZP3 surrounds the oocyte, and the sperm binds to it as a way to enter the cell. Once a sperm has entered the oocyte, mechanisms to prevent polyspermy are put in place. The IP3 pathway is activated and in increase in intraceellular calcium results in alteration of ZP3 to prevent any more sperm entering the oocyte.


Identify a review and a research article related to your group topic. (Paste on both group discussion page with signature and on your own page)


Review Mammalian models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: pathological characteristics and therapeutic applications.

Primary Detection of duchenne/becker muscular dystrophy carriers in a group of Iranian families by linkage analysis.

Lab Three=

What is the maternal dietary requirement for late neural development?

Folate is an important dietary requirement to prevent neural tube defects [[1]]. Another is iodine, in order to prevent neurological cretinism following maternal hypothyroidism [[2]].

Upload a picture relating to you group project.

DiGeorge T cell receptor Diversity post thymus transplant.jpg


--Mark Hill 12:20, 16 August 2011 (EST) Good image and the information included is correct. I don't really like the image name as it does not indicate what the image is about. Looking at the original figure legend is also not as helpful, perhaps modified from the paper title "T-cell receptor diversity with thymus transplantation for DiGeorge anomaly" or along those lines.

Reference List

  1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21786196 Actin, more than just a housekeeping protein at the scene of fertilization
  2. http://www.pnas.org/content/83/12/4341.short