2. Define asexual reproduction and describe three types of asexual reproduction.

3. Imagine you have two populations of earthworms, one that reproduces sexually and one that reproduces asexually. Suppose a devastating disease were introduced into these populations. Which would have a greater chance of surviving and why?

4. What are some of the requirements for external fertilization? Why is it sometimes considered an inefficient mode of fertilization?

5.
a) What are two components of the testes and what do they produce?
b) Trace the path that sperm takes through the male reproductive system to the external environment starting from the testes.
c) Name three accessory glands associated with the male reproductive system. What does each of these glands produce?

6. How did the ICE STORM OF 2003 affect you?

7. Draw and label a spermatazoa. Use the following terms: tail, plasma membrane, mitochondria, middle piece, head, nucleus, acrosome.

8.
a) What are their primary and secondary effects of androgens such as testosterone in males? b) Androgens can then, via a negative feedback mechanism, inhibit the release of _________________________ from the hypothalamus as well as the release of FSH and LH from the _________________________.
c) What does FSH promote in males?
d) What does LH promote in males?

9. Draw and label the following stuctures of the human female reproductive anatomy: ovaries, oviducts, uterus, vagina, and cervix

10. When a female is born, it is theoretically possible to determine exactly how many eggs she will produce in her lifetime based on the state of her reproductive tissues at that moment. How is this so? How does this compare to the male reproductive system?

11. What is the difference between the menstrual cycle of humans vs. dogs, rats, and sheep? What is the official name for the latter?

12. The Menstrual Cycle - THE PHASES
a) In regards to the Ovarian Cycle (pertaining to the ovum):
Days 1 through 14 correspond to the _________________________ phase.
At Day 14 _________________________ occurs.
Days 14 to 28 correspond to the _________________________ phase.
b) In regards to the Uterine Cycle (pertaining to the uterine endometrial lining):
Days 1 through 5 correspond to the _________________________ phase.
Days 5 through 14 correspond to the _________________________ phase.
Days 14 to 28 correspond to the _________________________ phase.

13. The Menstrual Cycle - THE HORMONES
a) What hormone causes follicular recruitment?
b) What hormone does the developing follicle produce as it matures?
c) A surge of what hormone causes the breakdown of the ovary wall for ovulation to occur as well as leads to the subsequent formation of the corpus luteum?
d) What hormones are produced by the corpus luteum itself?
e) What hormones build and maintain the endometrium?
f) What hormone maintains the corpus luteum assuming no fertilization occurs?
g) What hormone does the developing embryo produce that maintains the corpus luteum in the event that fertilization does occur?

14. The Menstrual Cycle - THE FEEDBACK MECHANISMS
a) A slow rise in estrogen levels _________________________ secretion of FSH and LH. This is an example of a _________________________ feedback mechanism.
b) A steep rise in estrogen levels _________________________ secretion of FSH and LH. This is an example of a _________________________ feedback mechanism.
c) Estrogen PLUS Progesterone _________________________ secretion of FSH and LH. This is an example of a _________________________ feedback mechanism.

*****Be sure you understand the diagram showing how both cycles are coordinated with each other and with the rise and fall of FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone during one 28-day period.*****

15. The Menstrual Cycle - THE WHOLE ORDEAL (ASSUME NO FERTILIZATION OCCURS.)
During the _________________________ phase, follicle cells are stimulated to grow and mature by _________________________ secreted by the anterior pituitary. The follicle secretes _________________________ at low levels which inhibits the release of _________________________ and _________________________ from the anterior pituitary in a negative feedback fashion. As the follicle continues to mature, things change radically as the follicle secretes great amounts of _________________________, which _________________________ production of FSH and LH in a _________________________ feedback manner. Eventually, there is surge in levels of _________________________ that causes _________________________ to occur on Day 14. Also, the _________________________ from the growing follicle _________________________ the thickening of the endometrium. In terms of the endometrium, this corresponds to the _________________________ phase. After the egg is expelled, the _________________________ phase begins and the emptied follicle transforms into the _________________________ , which produces _________________________ and _________________________ . Production of both these two hormones _________________________ the secretion of LH and FSH as well as continues the thickening of the endometrium. At this point, the endometrium has entered the _________________________ phase. As _________________________ levels decline, the corpus luteum disintegrates. It therefore halts in the production of estrogen and progesterone and _________________________ and _________________________ are no longer inhibited. Also, the decline in ovarian hormones causes the endometrial tissue to slough off. Menstruation, or the _________________________ phase, results as the _________________________ continues to disintegrate and levels of _________________________ and _________________________ continue to drop. Finally, levels of _________________________ and _________________________ are able to rise again. And the cycle begins again!!

16. If fertilization does take place, _________________________ produced by the embryo (which is the substance theat preganancy tests are designed to detect) maintains the _________________________ because it mimics the action of _________________________ .

17. During which trimester does each of the following take place?
a) organogenesis -
b) rapid growth to about 3kg and 50cm in length -
c) all major structures present -
d) heart starts beating -
e) starts to becomes active -

18.
a) What are the functions of oxytocin and prostaglandins during birth?
b) Outline the stages of birth and parturition.
c) Birth control pills are usually a combination of _________________________ and _________________________. Birth control pills act via a negative feedback mechanism to stop the release of GnRH and FSH (due to the effect of _________________________ ) as well as LH (due to the effect of _________________________ ).

19. Contrast preformation and epigenesis. Which is the correct theory on development?

20. Describe the acrosomal reaction and its role in fertilization.

21. Describe and contrast the fast-block and slow-block to polyspermy.

22. Describe the three main functions of cleavage.

23. As an embryo develops, certain cells and cell layers are destined for specific parts of the mature organism's body. Imagine that you use a radioactive dye to label a particular cell. For each of the following cells, predict where the labeled cell will end up in the mature organism.
a. A labeled cell on the animal pole of the zygote will end up on the ____________________ portion of the body.
b. A labeled cell in the mesoderm could end up in ____________________ or ____________________ .
c. A labeled cell in the ectoderm could end up in ____________________ or ____________________ .

24. Describe each of the following stages of development and number them in correct order - starting with the first stage: Blastula, Gastrula, Morula, Neural Process.

25. Indicate whether the following pertain to the adrenal cortex or the adrenal medulla:
a) under direct neural control -
b) associated with the sympathetic nervous system -
c) produces mineralocorticoids like aldosterone-
d) produces a substance that acts to synthesize glucose from non-carbohydrate sources -
e) under control of the anterior pituitary -
f) produces a substance that promotes Na+ reabsorption in the kidney -
g) stimulated by ACTH -
h) produces epinephrine -
i) produces glucocorticoids like cortisol -
j) produces substances that serve to increase heart rate and shunt blood to key areas of the body such as the heart, brain, and muscles -
k) produces norepinephrine -
l) produces adrenaline -

26. Post Exam 1 Evaluation
a) Were you satisfied with your score on the first exam? What were your expectations going into the exam? Did you feel confident with the material beforehand?
b) If you were not satisfied with your score, what do you think are the reasons for your score? (lack of studying, other exams to worry about, difficult concepts, poor lecture notes, poor lectures, confused by the multiple choice questions, etc?) Be frank!
c) Did any aspect of BioExcel help you at all (including working with other BioExcel students, the worksheets, the facilitators, lecturing by facilitators, old exams, or anything else)? If so which?
d) Which aspects of BioExcel do you feel are not helpful?
e) Do you have any suggestions as to how we can improve the BioExcel sessions at this point?