The Embryonic Disk

Description: A digital resource for the study of human development contains over 100 original diagrams and photographs. The first phase covers the crucial (and most conceptually difficult) twenty-eight days after fertilization, during which the form of the embryo is created and its major organ systems are laid out. This phase is designed to support the Foundation Module of the planned new medical curriculum at UCL/RFH, and to be a starting point for the systems-based curriculum modules that will follow. The plan is to extend it in several phases until it covers the whole of prenatal development. The simple introductory tutorial ’Egg to Embryo’ has a straight-through structure, without potentially distracting hypertext links. It should be useful for paramedical students who lack a background in this area. It may also be of value in schools. In all the other sections of the program, core materal for medics and paramedics is visible on each page as it appears and a variety of supplementary material can be popped up as required, mostly over the same page so that there is no risk of getting lost in a maze of navigation links. Topics overviews: ’The Germ Line’ includes primordial germ cells, te development of the gonads, meiosis, the ovarian cycle and spermatogenesis. ’Twins and more’ deals with mechanisms of twinning and multiple pregnancies. Clinical and research material will be covered in separate sections. Clinical themes currently under development include infertility and its treatment, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. In addition to the CD, there is available a bank of over 2200 true/false questions and explanations on Embryology from UCL. The CD is still under development.

Comments & References: Suitable for medical and paramedical students from the first year of vocational training upwards, but its format allows different levels of detail to be offered for different purposes. The CD-ROM is created in Asymetrix ToolBook. System requirements: Windows PC only (there will be no Macintosh version). The computer must have a CD-ROM drive, Windows 3.1/3.11/95 or 98, 16-bit colour at SVGA resolution Windows 3.1/3.11 set for ’normal fonts’ or 95/98 set for ’small fonts’, 24 MB free on the hard drive. The absolute minimum processor for Windows 3.1 (but NOT recommended) is 486DX/33 with 4 MB RAM, the recommendation is at least Pentium 100 with 16 MB RAM.

Computer type: IBM

Price: UK student price: £11.75 (including VAT and mailing); Price for other users and network licences: Contact Dr. Cook.

Version: 1995