Description: Production of high-quality gametes is essential for sexual reproduction. In females, this process takes place within the follicle, a supporting structure and functional unit of the ovary. This process is highly error-prone, affected by aging, exposure to reproductive toxicants, and many disease states. Students will learn about the latest technological advances that clinicians use to select quality eggs, developments in contraception, and in fertility preservation.
Structure: The course will provide a mixture of lectures, active learning, and primary literature discussion.
Outcome: After taking this course, students will have a working knowledge of the ovarian processes involved in generating developmentally competent eggs, understand exposures and disease states that impact egg quality. They will be able to synthesize biomedical findings to communicate the implications of these finds in writing to an audience with broad scientific knowledge.
Grading: Students will be graded on attendance and participation (10%) and production of 2 “News and Views” style writing assignments (90%).