The Fast and the Furious: Talks about Sperm Migration and Social Dominance

June 24, 2019

Featuring:

Melanie Balbach - “Survival of the fittest: A sperm's journey to fertilization”. The sperm overcomes a number of barriers on its way from ejaculation to an oocyte. Melanie will discuss how the physiology of the sperm adapts to overcome these barriers on it’s journey to fertilization, as well as how the uterus and the oocyte provide assistance to help the sperm reach its destination. Melanie's research investigating how the sperm fuels it’s engine to reach the oocyte can be used to develop male contraceptives and treat reproductive diseases. Watch video here!

Katherine Lopez - "Top Mouse: The Development of Social Dominance". Social dominance is an essential component of social behavior across a multitude of species, from insects to primates. The emergence of a dominant individual can be linked to genetics; however, this behavior develops even in genetically identical individuals in controlled laboratory settings. So, what makes an individual dominant? Is it nature (innate) or nurture (learnt)? Are all socially dominant individuals alike (e.g., are all dominant individuals aggressive/bullies?). These are a few of the questions that Katherine's research is currently exploring. Watch video here!