Farm animal embryo technologies strongAchievementsstrong and perspectives.pdfVIP

Theriogenology 65 (2006) 905–913 /periodicals/the Farm animal embryo technologies: Achievements and perspectives Keith J. Betteridge * Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 Abstract Progress and changes in embryo technology in farm animals are briefly reviewed in terms of how well embryos can be made and used and what the subject has taught us about the maintenance of pregnancy and reproduction in general. Generalizations are made about the need to not accept dogma, how initially complex techniques always become simplified and thereby more applicable, and the need for the support of long-term and basic research. Personal views are offered on how best to prepare and motivate the next generation of scientists in the field, and the need for scientists to engage in the debate of how embryo technologies should be used responsibly in countering global inequalities. # 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Embryo transfer; Cattle; Sheep; Pigs; Horses 1. Introduction Embryo technology or embryo transfer (ET) was as fashionable a term 30 years ago as it is today, but the procedures it conjures now were unimaginable then. Despite the enormous changes, however, the embryo itself, its survival of transfer, and the quality of the animal it produces still measure the success of any embryo manipulation. Therefore, progress in embryo technology can be gauged in terms of how well we reproductive biologists can make and use embryos, and how much they have taught us about the maintenance of * Tel.: +1 519 824 4120x58258; fax: +1 519 767 1450. E-mail address: kbetter@uoguelph.ca. 0093-691X/$ – see front matter # 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights res