Various strategies have been used to isolate genes that participate in the regulation of mouse development. Gene families that have been identified on the basis of their homology to motifs within Drosophila control genes or human transcription factor genes, namely homeobox (Hox), paired-box (Pax), and POU genes, can be compared with respect to gene organization, structure, and expression patter...

Background Chromatin of male and female gametes undergoes a number of reprogramming events during the transition from germ cell to embryonic developmental programs in the zygote. This process involves reorganisation of the patterns of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), a DNA modification associated with regulation of gene activity. Notably, both maternal and paternal genomes undergo Tet3-dependent oxidati...

Background: The aim of this study was evaluation of developmental rate and Bax, Bcl-2 and ErbB4 genes expression following re-vitrification in compact and early blastocysts stages. Materials and Methods: 5-8 cell embryos were collected from female mature mice, 60-62 hours post hCG injection. The embryos were divided to five groups including: fresh, vitrified at 5-8 cells, vitrified at blastocys...

The "developmental hourglass'' describes a pattern of increasing morphological divergence towards earlier and later embryonic development, separated by a period of significant conservation across distant species (the "phylotypic stage''). Recent studies have found evidence in support of the hourglass effect at the genomic level. For instance, the phylotypic stage expresses the oldest and most c...