Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
Near the gonadal ridges, two duct systems are present: the mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts) and paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts). These ducts form the basis for the male...

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size. Today,...

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves the development of sperm cells from undifferentiated stem cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. The process is essential for the production of mature and functional sperm cells that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
The process of spermatogenesis can be divided into mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During mitosis, the spermatogonia or stem cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells, type A and B spermatogonia. Type-A...

Determination

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Maternal iron deficiency causes male-to-female sex reversal in mouse embryos.

Nature·2025

Same author

Correction: Pharmacological targeting of the transcription factor SOX18 delays breast cancer in mice.

eLife·2023

Same author

Author Correction: Variants in SART3 cause a spliceosomopathy characterised by failure of testis development and neuronal defects.

Nature communications·2023

Same author

Variants in SART3 cause a spliceosomopathy characterised by failure of testis development and neuronal defects.

Nature communications·2023

Same author

Somatic FGFR2 is Required for Germ Cell Maintenance in the Mouse Ovary.

Endocrinology·2023

Same author

Functional genomics analysis identifies loss of HNF1B function as a cause of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome.

Human molecular genetics·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells

Published on: October 22, 2009

Mouse germ cell development: from specification to sex determination.

Katherine A Ewen¹, Peter Koopman

¹Division of Molecular Genetics and Development, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

|December 29, 2009

Summary

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) commit to the germline early in mouse development. These PGCs migrate, proliferate, and establish epigenetic imprints to differentiate into gametes, guided by somatic cues.

More Related Videos

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: January 11, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells

Published on: October 22, 2009

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: January 11, 2019

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Epigenetics
Gametogenesis

Background:

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors to gametes.
Early embryonic development involves PGCs committing to the germline.
PGCs undergo migration, proliferation, and epigenetic reprogramming.

Purpose of the Study:

To outline the developmental trajectory of PGCs in mouse embryos.
To describe the key molecular and cellular events during germ cell development.
To highlight the role of epigenetic reprogramming and somatic cues in sexual lineage commitment.

Main Methods:

Observational study of mouse embryonic development.
Gene expression analysis to identify PGC markers.
Epigenetic analysis, including DNA methylation.
Analysis of PGC migration and proliferation dynamics.

Main Results:

A distinct population of cells commits to the germline early in gastrulation.
PGCs migrate anteriorly, proliferate mitotically, and colonize the gonads.
Epigenetic reprogramming occurs, including imprint erasure and establishment, and X chromosome reactivation in females.
Germ cells commit to male or female lineages based on somatic environmental cues.

Conclusions:

PGC development is a complex, multi-step process involving migration, proliferation, and epigenetic modifications.
Somatic environmental cues are critical in directing germ cell sexual lineage commitment.
Understanding PGC development is fundamental to reproductive biology and developmental science.