In vitro fertilization and embryo culture are now common treatments offered to infertile couples. Research studies in animal models as well as clinical reviews have demonstrated that gametes and embryos are exquisitely sensitive to their micro-environment. Variations in mouse embryo culture media have been shown to induce changes in epigenetic reprogramming of embryos and to affect behavioral traits of mice. My research is focused on examining the embryonic developmental effects of in vitro manipulation techniques commonly used for in vitro fertilization.

Education

• Ph.D. program began at Tufts University Veterinary School (8-2003) with Drs. Eric Overstrom and David Albertini, then transferred to the University of Kansas Medical School with Dr. Albertini (7/05)
• M.S. - Physiology of Reproduction, Dept. of Animal Science, Iowa State University
• B.S. - Biology Major, Dept. of Biology, Seattle University

Professional Experience

Massachusetts General Hospital, Dept. of Burns & Trauma Research, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Boston, MA (9/04-7/05) - completing a graduate research project for publication - Drs. Mehmet Toner & John Biggers.

Tufts University Veterinary School, Dept. of Comparative Biosciences, Reproductive Physiology, North Grafton, MA (8/03-8/04) - Graduate Student - Drs. David Albertini & Eric Overstrom.

Harvard University Medical School, Dept. of Cell Biology, Boston, MA (7/92-present) - Research Associate - Dr. John Biggers

Iowa State University, Dept. of Animal Science, Reproductive Physiology and Embryology, Ames, IA (9/90-7/92) - Research Associate - Dr. Curtis Youngs (7/89-8/90) Graduate Research Assistant - transferred MS degree program from University of Idaho with Dr. Youngs.

University of Idaho, Dept. of Animal Science, Reproductive Physiology, Moscow, ID (9/87-6/89) - Graduate Research Assistant - Dr. Curtis R. Youngs.

Honors & Activities

• Dean's List, Seattle University
• Gamma Sigma Delta, University of Idaho
• International Embryo Transfer Society
• Society for the Study of Reproduction
• Amnesty International
• Ulster Historical Guild

Recent Publications

Biggers JD, LK McGinnis and JA Lawitts. 2005. One-step versus two-step culture of mouse preimplantation embryos: is there a difference? Hum Reprod 20:3376-3384.

Biggers JD, LK McGinnis and JA Lawitts. 2005. One-step versus two-step culture of mouse preimplantation embryos: is there a difference? Hum Reprod 20:3376-3384.

McGinnis LK, L Zhu, JA Lawitts, S Bhowmick, M Toner and JD Biggers. 2005. Mouse sperm desiccated and stored in trehalose medium without freezing. Biol Reprod 73:627-33.

Summers MC, LK McGinnis, JA Lawitts and JD Biggers. 2005. Mouse embryo development following IVF in media containing either L-glutamine or glycyl-L-glutamine. Hum Reprod. 20:1364-1371.

Biggers, JD, LK McGinnis and JA Lawitts. 2004. Enhanced effect of glycyl-L-glutamine on mouse preimplantation embryos in vitro. Reprod Biol Med On-line 9:59-69.

Biggers, JD, LK McGinnis and MC Summers. 2004. Discrepancies between the effects of glutamine in cultures of preimplantation mouse embryos. Reprod Biol Med On-line 9:70-73.

Bhowmick, S, L Zhu, L McGinnis, J Lawitts, BD Nath, M Toner and J Biggers. 2003. Desiccation tolerance of spermatozoa dried at ambient temperature: Production of fetal mice. Biol Reprod. 68:1779-86.

Li, MW, L McGinnis, L Zhu, J Lawitts, J Biggers and KCK Lloyd. 2003. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) enables rescue of valuable mutant mouse strains. Comp Med. 53:265-9.

Publications from Masters Degree

McGinnis, LK, SC Duplantis, Jr. and CR Youngs. 1992. Cryopreservation of sheep embryos using ethylene glycol. Anim. Reprod. Sci.

McGinnis, LK and CR Youngs. 1992. In vitro culture of ovine embryos in CZB medium. Theriogenology 37:559-569.