Reproductive and Embryo Technologies for Biodiversity Preservation in Companion Animals

With this course, Students will be introduced to the applications of reproductive and embryo technologies in programs aimed at preserving biodiversity in companion animals. The course will first give an overview of the technologies currently available and will then consider some of the more recent advances in the field. A hands-on approach will be preferentially adopted to provide Students with practical skills that can be used to support biodiversity programs by using reproductive technologies in the main companion animal species (cat, dog, horse).

1. Knowledge and understanding: at the end of this course Students will be able to describe the main reproductive technologies that can be used for the implementation of biodiversity programs and the basic principles of gametes and embryos' manipulation and cryoconservation.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: the acquired knowledge and skills will allow Students to choose, among the array of the available reproductive technologies, which one(s) is(are) the best suited for implementing programs for the preservation of biodiversity, according to the specific needs. With the practical sessions, Students will learn to apply some of these technologies in the species considered.
3. Making judgments: at the end of this course Students will be able to contribute to the planning of programs for the preservation of biodiversity, especially for the species considered.
4. Communication: at the end of this course Students will be able to exhaustively explain, using the scientific terminology, the role of reproductive technologies for the implementation of programs for the preservation of biodiversity in mammals.
5. Lifelong learning skills: gaining a knowledge of the basics of reproductive technologies, together with the exposure to recent scientific literature in the field, will allow Students to achieve a methodology and the intellectual skills to further study topics related to reproductive technologies and biodiversity preservation programs.