The DNA methylation field has matured from a phase of discovery and genomic
characterization to one seeking deeper functional understanding of how this modification …

BACKGROUND Mammalian germ cells differentiate into oocytes in females and
spermatozoa in males. An oocyte and a spermatozoon fuse to form a zygote and then …

The human embryo undergoes morphogenetic transformations following implantation into
the uterus, but our knowledge of this crucial stage is limited by the inability to observe the …

Gastrulation is the fundamental process in all multicellular animals through which the basic
body plan is first laid down,,–. It is pivotal in generating cellular diversity coordinated with …

Human pluripotent and trophoblast stem cells have been essential alternatives to
blastocysts for understanding early human development,,–. However, these simple culture …

Though totipotency and pluripotency are transient during early embryogenesis, they
establish the foundation for the development of all mammals. Studying these in vivo has …

Nearly every mammalian cell division is accompanied by a mutational event that becomes
fixed in a daughter cell. When carried forward to additional cell progeny, a clone of variant …

In vitro gametogenesis, the process of generating gametes from pluripotent cells in culture,
is a powerful tool for improving our understanding of germ cell development and an …

Following implantation, the human embryo undergoes major morphogenetic transformations
that establish the future body plan. While the molecular events underpinning this process …

The human genome contains more than 4.5 million inserts derived from transposable
elements (TEs), the result of recurrent waves of invasion and internal propagation …