We have reassessed the evidence for this phenomenon of genome-wide demethylation following fertilisation in the mouse. We found when using conventional methods of immunolocalization that 5meC showed a progressive acid-resistant antigenic masking during zygotic maturation which gave the appearance of...

We report a newly identified maternal effect gene, Nlrp2, which plays a role in early embryogenesis in the mouse. Nlrp2 mRNAs and their proteins (∼118 KDa) are expressed in oocytes and granulosa cells during folliculogenesis. The transcripts show a striking decline in early preimplantation embryos...

We demonstrate that the adverse effects of antibiotics on mammalian embryos are more severe than we previously presumed and that antibiotics are not essential for sterility of embryo culture system therefore abolishing antibiotic supplementation during embryo culture....

Somatic embryogenesis is well established for the economic relevant ornamental crop Cyclamen and thus could supplement the elaborate propagation via seeds. However, the use of somatic embryogenesis for commercial large scale propagation is still limited due to physiological disorders...

We compare data from triplets registered with the NTR with data from population records, which include live births, stillbirths and children that have deceased within days after birth. There was no effect of assisted reproductive techniques on triplet birth weight. At gestational age...

Tibia and femur osteogenesis was studied in embryonic lower limbs developed in microgravity. The maximal difference in ash content of shell in the flight and control groups was registered on days 4, 10 and 14 amounting to 10.27; 9.56 and 12.95% respectively. Shell analysis for calciu...

We sought to establish the heritable mark during early embryonic development that determines transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and to examine a possible shift in the expression of this epiallele in future progeny induced by in vitro culture (IVC). To identify the heritable mark we analyzed 1)...

Transient populations of cis- and trans-acting small RNAs have recently emerged as key regulators of extensive epigenetic changes taking place during periconception, which encompasses gametogenesis, fertilization, and early zygotic development. These small RNAs are not only important to maintain gen...

We show that female macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) initiate vitellogenesis and yolk formation while at sea during return migrations to breeding colonies; yolk formation takes approximately 16 days, but females lay only 7-14 days after their return. Once on land, Eudyptes penguins show a u...

I discuss recent studies of the roles of miRNAs during the maternal-to-zygotic transition and cellular reprogramming, where they reshape transcriptional landscapes to facilitate the establishment of novel cellular states....