Many germ cells are eliminated during development, long before oogenesis or
spermatogenesis. In mouse fetal testes, the majority of germ cell apoptosis coincides with …

Mutations in DNA damage response (DDR) factors are associated with human infertility,
which affects up to 15% of the population. The DDR is required during germ cell …

In adults, stem cells are responsible for the maintenance of many actively renewing tissues,
such as haematopoietic, skin, gut and germinal tissues. These stem cells can self-renew or …

Gametes are highly specialized cells that can give rise to the next generation through their
ability to generate a totipotent zygote. In mice, germ cells are first specified in the developing …

Germ cells undergo epigenome reprogramming for proper development of the next
generation. The achievement of in vitro germ cell derivation from human and mouse …

Embryonic germ cells as well as germline stem cells from neonatal mouse testis are
pluripotent and have differentiation potential similar to embryonic stem cells,, suggesting that …

The epigenetic profile of germ cells, which is defined by modifications of DNA and
chromatin, changes dynamically during their development. Many of the changes are …

The commitment of germ cells to either oogenesis or spermatogenesis occurs during fetal
gonad development: germ cells enter meiosis or mitotic arrest, depending on whether they …

Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the precursors of sperm and eggs, are the route to totipotency
and require establishment of a unique epigenome in this lineage. The genetic program for …

Cellular apoptosis appears to be a constant feature in the adult testis and during early
development. This is essential because mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex process …