Zygotic gene activation is essential for development beyond the 2-cell stage in the
preimplantation mouse embryo. Based on α-amanitin-sensitive BrUTP incorporation …

Mouse studies have been instrumental in forming our current understanding of early cell-
lineage decisions; however, similar insights into the early human development are severely …

BACKGROUND Over the past few years, advances in molecular technologies have allowed
unprecedented mapping of epigenetic modifications in gametes and during early embryonic …

Maternal-to-embryonic transition (MET) is the period in early embryonic development when
maternal RNAs and proteins stored in the oocyte are gradually degraded and transcription …

Many maternal factors in the oocyte persist in the embryo. They are required to initiate
zygotic transcription but also function beyond this stage, where they interact with zygotic …

A decade after cloning the sheep Dolly, the induction of pluripotency by transcription factors
has further revolutionized the possibilities of reprogramming a cell's identity, with exciting …

Mammalian pre-implantation development is a complex process involving dramatic changes
in the transcriptional architecture,,,. We report here a comprehensive analysis of …

Oocytes are arrested for long periods of time in the prophase of the first meiotic division
(prophase I). As chromosome condensation poses significant constraints to gene …

Global activation of the embryonic genome is the most critical event in early mammalian
development. After fertilization, a rich supply of maternal proteins and RNAs support …

The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is an essential developmental turning point in both
plants and animals. In plants, the timing of MZT and parental contributions to the zygotic …