Veterinary Genetics Exam

I had my resit of Veterinary Genetics today and never been so nervous for an exam in my life!

I was in with a panel of four examiners because it was my Rectors go (last chance) but I studied hard for a week and passed!

I was in there for an hour and 15mins expecting them to grill me and while they did, they also helped me through it and rephrased questions I didn't understand as it's an oral exam.

Just two more exams to go until I can go home for summer!

Cytogenetics; Mouse Bone Marrow

We had a Genetics practical today in which we undertook chromosomal analysis, or Cytogenetics.

During Metaphase the chromosomes can be seen under the microscope and the number, shape and size of chromosomes  is different for each species.

The sides we were looking at were those we prepared earlier in the semester, using bone marrow samples we extracted ourselves from the femur of a mouse.

Under the microscope the chromosomes can clearly be seen in metaphase:

Pretty cool...

We counted the number of chromosomes in each set and looked for breakage in the arms. In 'real life' they do it to map genes, look for mutations in genes, inherited diseases and tumours. 

It took us about half an hour to find and count 5 sets but the veterinary genetics technicians said they can get though 500 sets from one animal per day!

Genetics Karyotyping - Chromosomal Analysis

Today we had a Genetics practical in which we examined chromosomes from samples of bovine blood and bone marrow which I collected in clinic last week.

We also used Mouse bone marrow samples which we harvested in a previous practical.

We were then given random unmarked slides which we had to find and count the number of chromosomes to identify the species and sex of the specimen.

My slide had 38 chromosomes, 19 pairs, which could have been a Cat or a Pig but I worked out it was a pig from the market chromosomes; the smallest chromosome wasn't half the size of the second smallest, meaning it was a pig.

There was no Y sex chromosome so I also determined that it was a female or sow.

Maxime's slide had 46 chromosomes which is a Human karyotype!

Pretty awesome that I'm only in the eighth week of Vet School but we have already collected blood and bone marrow from three species of animals - Rabbits, Mice and Cows.

Homework we've been given is a photo similar to the chromosomes above which we have to determine species, marker chromosomes and sex then cut them out and arrange the Karyotype according to international rules!