Michael Dyck

Biography

Michael Dyck belongs to the department of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences Agricultural Food and Nutritional Science from the university of Alberta.

Research Interest

Main research interests are in gamete physiology and early embryonic development in swine. My work to date has involved gamete/embryo manipulation, the use of transgenic models to better understand various reproductive processes and the application of transgenesis to alter commercially desirable porcine characteristics. Research current focuses on the development and application of molecular techniques and advanced reproductive technologies, in collaboration with the pork production industry, to improve reproductive efficiency in swine. I am also a lead researcher with the Pan-Canadian NSERC Strategic Research Network – EmbryoGENE. This collaborative research initiative is expected to provide us with the gene expression profile for pre-implantation porcine and bovine embryos. This information has the potential to dramatically alter our understanding of this critical period in mammalian development and appreciate how various factors may affect the embryos’ ability to survive, as well as the long-term impact that these factors may have on the embryos and resulting offspring that do survive. Within the Network I am currently the leader of a Research Theme to address the effects of reproductive technologies on embryo quality in swine.