Work plan

Reagensglasbefrugtning
In vitro fertilization (IVF) of cattle egg (photo: Torben Greve)
 

Project management (Poul Hyttel)

Aim: To secure precise and tight governance of the project.
Poul Hyttel retired on 1 June 2021 and since then former project leader trainee, Jan Secher,  took over as acting project leader. Betina W Jensen is project administrator and project manager. A well defined Steering Committee (SC; see exhibit II) is securing effective management. A collaboration agreement has been established.

EliteOva is structured in 5 work packages (WPs) with the allocation of relevant personnel and funding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aim: To verify the normality of the gene expression and epigenome in IVP embryos and calves from WP2.2 and WP2.3.

RNA will be extracted from IVP and control embryos and calves. Gene expression data from embryos and calves will be analyzed using the EmbryoGENE bovine platform. To study the underlying fetal programming, epigenetic modifications will be investigated. DNA methylation will be analyzed using the EmbryoGENE bovine epigenomic platform and histone modifications by chromatic immuno-precipitation (ChIP) on IVP and control embryos and calves in close collaboration with Université Laval, Canada and Melior, US. Systems biological analyses will aim at identifying key gene networks and differentially regulated pathways resulting from IVP.

 

 

Aim: To secure that health and normality of the pregnancies and calves.

The offspring will be examined closely to rule out any adverse effects of the IVP procedure on development and health. This will include laboratory examination of fetal membranes, aborted fetuses, stillborn calves and all other offspring dying during the study as well as a detailed examination of 20 calves from WP5. The health and development of viable offspring will be followed closely by recording viability and blood biochemical profiles at the age of 0, 7 and 30 days after calving.