Current Tools in Reproductive Sciences II (CTRS II)

3 units

In this course, students will be exposed to and have the opportunity to practice a variety of advanced techniques used in reproductive science laboratories, reinforce their skills in experimental design, and learn and apply statistical analyses to their weekly lab findings. The aim of this course is to expose students to these techniques, add depth to their knowledge of the related subject areas, provide additional formal training in research methods, and introduce statistical methods. Class time will include a combination of lecture, laboratory demonstration and practice, and data analysis. Of note, mouse surgical procedures will be demonstrated by instructors and practice performed by students will be on euthanized mice. The course will be broken into four units covering four biological themes, and four analytical/statistical themes. Unit I: Gamete Analyses; Comparing Two Groups (Mouse handling and husbandry; Sperm motility and capacitation analysis; In vitro oocyte maturation; Introduction to descriptive statistics and tests of significance). Unit II: In vivo Models of Pregnancy, Parturition, and Parenting; Relating Numerical Quantities (Mouse surgeries [Osmotic pump insertion surgery and intrauterine pressure telemeter insertion]; Mouse behavior; Linear regression and analysis of numerical/categorical data). Unit III: Tissue Physiology and Modeling; Processing Complex Data (Myometrial tension recordings; Measures of cervical stiffness and fetal membrane strength; Organoid culture and analysis; Advanced analytical techniques, such as smoothing, imputation, visualization, etc.). Unit IV: Microscopy; Introduction to Machine Learning (Advanced microscopy and tissue clearing; Exploratory data analysis and machine learning; Establish the machine learning model to analyze microscopic data).