Temperature, salinity, and other environmental factors have to be just right and make careful attention to laboratory protocols essential. This lab helps students see the complex requirements for successful fertilization and healthy development of embryos. As we saw yesterday, most of the organisms with which we are familiar, including humans, started with sperm and eggs. The new beginning of an unique organism. Ask and answer questions while introducing the model to insure active participation and check understanding.
Students perform fertilization under their microscopes and make observations.
Students are also given pre fertilized embryos that are reaching the first cell division stage for observation. Tomorrow we will continue with sea urchin development by observing embryos at latter stages of development.