assisted reproduction and problems of successful conservation

sperm banks

freeze collected sperm samples…sperm activity is screened and diluted with buffer solution and albumen…semen is stored in thin tubes using liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius

artificial insemination

straw with sperm is place in warm water…straw in catheter is inserted into the vagina and into the uterus…resulting embryos are flushed out the uterus

embryo transfer

embryo gets transferred to other females that have had hormonal treatment to prepare for pregnancy

benefits of artificial insemination

protects endangered species from pregnancy…endangered female becomes the source of many offspring

invitro fertilisation

oocytes are collected via needles in the ovaries…mature follicles are withdrawn and oocytes are mixed with semen…resulting zygotes divide to form embryos which are then placed into mothers

problems of successful conservation

organisms that are saved from extinction grow in numbers too large to be maintained in their ecosystem

culling

reduces population numbers

birth control

oral contraceptives that target the region surrounding glycoprotein layer around the egg…block sperm from reaching egg by producing antibodies