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 …

Stem cells divide both to produce new stem cells and to generate daughter cells that can
differentiate. The underlying mechanisms are not well understood, but conceptually are of …

The demonstration of germ cell and haploid gamete development from embryonic stem cells
(ESCs) in vitro has engendered a unique set of possibilities for the study of germ cell …

Exposure of developing male germ cells to environmental insults has been linked to adverse
effects in the offspring. One mechanism by which germ cell defects may be passed …

The expansion of primordial germ cells (PGC s), the precursors for the oocytes and
spermatozoa, is a key challenge in reproductive biology/medicine. Using a chemical …

Egg and sperm cells (gametes) of the mouse are derived from a founder population of
primordial germ cells that are set aside early in embryogenesis. Primordial germ cells arise …

Epigenetic reprogramming in the germline resets genomic potential and erases epigenetic
memory. Three studies by Gkountela et al., Guo et al., and Tang et al. analyze the …

At the end of mammalian spermatogenesis, chromatin in differentiating germ cells is
extensively remodeled, with the majority of nucleosomes being removed and ultimately …

A unique feature of the germ cell lineage is the generation of totipotency. A critical event in
this context is DNA demethylation and the erasure of parental imprints in mouse primordial …

Germ cells have the unique capacity to start a new life upon fertilization. They are generated
during a sex-specific differentiation programme called gametogenesis. Maturation of germ …