| Area Homeschoolers Explore Techniques in Reproductive Physiology Five area homeschoolers spent March 13 exploring the wonders of modern technology in reproductive physiology of beef cattle. Stephanie and Sadie Erickson, Jeanna Jenkins (Whitman), and Angel and C.R. Wolfenden (Mullen) headed out before the sun peeked over the hills. They arrived at Frontier Genetics in Curtis in time to watch Dr. Lee Jones and his technician Janis Schrock flush 7 day-old embryos out of a genetically superior Red Angus cow. The amazed students looked into the microscope with awe at 20+ detailed embryos they hadn’t even seen in the collection vial. Then they listened as Dr. Jones explained how recipient cows would then be prepared to accept the young embryos and how they would be placed in the uterine horns of the cows. He then explained how the cells would continue to divide and differentiate until each recipient cow would finally give birth to a wobbly-legged calf nine months later. After lunch in the park the group traveled to Nebraska Bull Service in McCook where Brian and Donnetta Schafer and their staff showed them how bull semen is collected, processed, and stored for artificial insemination. After surveying several bulls at the facility awaiting collection, the students studied the equipment used to collect, process, and freeze the semen in liquid nitrogen. Again they were amazed to view numerous microscopic spermatozoa wiggling around on a slide. At the end of the day the group had a stronger sense of awe for our Creator and a better understanding of some of the technology involved in reproductive physiology. . |