Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis investigates the effects of the environmental stressor heat on the expression of Transposable Elements (TEs) during bovine oocyte maturation and early embryo development. The events associated with reprogramming in early development lead to low levels of DNA methylation, which normally constrains TE expression. Since heat exposure is known to affect TE expression in other organisms, we postulated that developing bovine embryos might be susceptible during this period. TEs can cause mutations and negative consequences through random insertion into DNA, and might contribute to negative effects of heat stress on fertility. The current study hypothesizes that exposure to heat during maturation induces changes in TE expression levels during development. Select TE transcripts were quantified in bovine oocytes and zygotes after exposure to heat (41°C for one hour). The results indicate a small number of significant changes in the expression levels between treatments, and decreased cleavage rates during development.
Author: Natasha K. Martin
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3093015995