Of mice (dogs, horses, sheep) and men: A novel comparative anatomy dissection course in a United Kingdom university.

At the University of Bristol, we established a novel dissection course to complement our anatomy degree. Students enrolled in this undergraduate course are trained as comparative anatomists, with equal time given to both human and veterinary anatomy. Historically, students opted to dissect either human or veterinary donors as part of the course. To fully reflect the comparative nature of the degree, the dissection course was redesigned so students could dissect both human and veterinary specimens as part of the same course. This facilitated a wide-ranging experience of anatomy, encouraging detailed knowledge of a multitude of species and allowing for multifaceted anatomy graduates to be ready for employment in a wide and competitive job market. Across three iterations of the amended version of the course, median marks ranged from 58.7% to 62.0%, with between 22 and 39 students enrolled. In comparison to the course prior to the introduction of the change, median marks ranged from 59.8% to 62.8%, with between 16 and 24 students enrolled. There was no significant difference between marks before or after the introduction of the concurrently comparative aspect. This paper describes the course, with learning materials and assessments considered, along with some reflection on its value. The course offers benefits to students by widening their perspective on anatomical knowledge and making them more equipped for the job market. It also broadens their understanding of form-function relationships. However, student feedback implied that having the choice between human or veterinary dissection was preferable, and this may outweigh the perceived benefits of the course.

Collaborative, Two-Directional Live Streaming to Deliver Hands-on Dissection Experience during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

Cadaveric dissection is widely used in anatomy teaching worldwide. This method develops anatomical knowledge and practical dissection skills, as well as communication and team working. At the School of Anatomy, University of Bristol, two of our undergraduate units depend on dissection as a teaching tool.Social distancing guidelines brought about by COVID-19 brought challenges and meant it was not possible for all students to be present around a cadaver simultaneously. We adapted with secure, two-way live streaming, facilitated by ceiling-mounted cameras.Our units utilised the technology in slightly different ways. In a larger cohort, students were not able to attend the dissection room simultaneously and 2-4 students from each group attended, with the remainder (6-8 students) attending via Zoom. In the smaller cohort, all students attended, though only two students could be present around the cadaver, with Zoom used to stream the dissection to those distanced around the room. Those present narrated and ensured visibility of the dissection, whilst posing questions to those at home. The home group provided feedback, generated discussion, and conducted research.This chapter reflects on our experiences using this innovative teaching method. It was a valuable alternative to being in person. Whilst students might have spent less time in the dissection room, their dissection time equalled or was greater than pre-pandemic. Students developed digital confidence and built cohorts, and whilst we reflect on the need for effective communication and digital equity, we offer our best practice and solutions.Whilst in-person teaching has resumed in 2021-2022, investment in this technology enables us to rapidly pivot to a reduced in-person, or an entirely online delivery where required, and we are confident that our delivery will be effective in either case. There are also exciting opportunities for new forms of delivery as well as national and international collaborations.

Canine Brachycephaly Is Associated with a Retrotransposon-Mediated Missplicing of SMOC2.

In morphological terms, "form" is used to describe an object's shape and size. In dogs, facial form is stunningly diverse. Facial retrusion, the proximodistal shortening of the snout and widening of the hard palate is common to brachycephalic dogs and is a welfare concern, as the incidence of respiratory distress and ocular trauma observed in this class of dogs is highly correlated with their skull form. Progress to identify the molecular underpinnings of facial retrusion is limited to association of a missense mutation in BMP3 among small brachycephalic dogs. Here, we used morphometrics of skull isosurfaces derived from 374 pedigree and mixed-breed dogs to dissect the genetics of skull form. Through deconvolution of facial forms, we identified quantitative trait loci that are responsible for canine facial shapes and sizes. Our novel insights include recognition that the FGF4 retrogene insertion, previously associated with appendicular chondrodysplasia, also reduces neurocranium size. Focusing on facial shape, we resolved a quantitative trait locus on canine chromosome 1 to a 188-kb critical interval that encompasses SMOC2. An intronic, transposable element within SMOC2 promotes the utilization of cryptic splice sites, causing its incorporation into transcripts, and drastically reduces SMOC2 gene expression in brachycephalic dogs. SMOC2 disruption affects the facial skeleton in a dose-dependent manner. The size effects of the associated SMOC2 haplotype are profound, accounting for 36% of facial length variation in the dogs we tested. Our data bring new focus to SMOC2 by highlighting its clinical implications in both human and veterinary medicine.

In vitro models for the study of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent disease of most mammalian species and is a significant cause of welfare and economic morbidity in affected individuals and populations. In vitro models of osteoarthritis are vital to advance research into the causes of the disease, and the subsequent design and testing of potential therapeutics. However, a plethora of in vitro models have been used by researchers but with no consensus on the most appropriate model. Models attempt to mimic factors and conditions which initiate OA, or dissect the pathways active in the disease. Underlying uncertainty as to the cause of OA and the different attributes of isolated cells and tissues used mean that similar models may produce differing results and can differ from the naturally occurring disease. This review article assesses a selection of the in vitro models currently used in OA research, and considers the merits of each. Particular focus is placed on the more prevalent cytokine stimulation and load-based models. A brief review of the mechanism of these models is given, with their relevance to the naturally occurring disease. Most in vitro models have used supraphysiological loads or cytokine concentrations (compared with the natural disease) in order to impart a timely response from the cells or tissue assessed. Whilst models inducing OA-like pathology with a single stimulus can answer important biological questions about the behaviour of cells and tissues, the development of combinatorial models encompassing different physiological and molecular aspects of the disease should more accurately reflect the pathogenesis of the naturally occurring disease.