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Related Concept Videos

Determination01:51

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...
In-vitro Mutagenesis01:16

In-vitro Mutagenesis

To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton
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Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Published on: April 19, 2018

Lessons for inductive germline determination.

Riyad N H Seervai1, Gary M Wessel

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, 02192, USA.

Molecular Reproduction and Development
|March 2, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Germline formation in embryos uses inherited or inductive mechanisms, differing across species. This review compares these pathways, exploring molecular determinants and evolutionary transitions in germ cell development.

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Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton
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Published on: May 5, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Germline formation is crucial for reproduction, but mechanisms vary significantly across animal species.
  • Two primary mechanisms exist: inherited, where maternal factors dictate germ cell fate, and inductive, involving cell signaling.
  • The inherited mechanism is well-studied in model organisms, while the inductive mechanism is primarily investigated in mice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare and contrast inherited and inductive mechanisms of germline determination.
  • To identify key molecular determinants involved in primordial germ cell (PGC) formation across taxa.
  • To evaluate hypotheses on selective pressures and evolutionary transitions between these mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative review of existing literature on germline determination mechanisms.
  • Analysis of molecular determinants in PGC formation.
  • Evaluation of evolutionary hypotheses and phylogenetic transitions.

Main Results:

  • Germline determination strategies differ widely, with inherited mechanisms studied in invertebrates and inductive mechanisms in mammals.
  • Key molecular players in germ cell formation are conserved across many animal taxa.
  • Evolutionary transitions between inherited and inductive mechanisms may represent a continuum rather than a binary switch.

Conclusions:

  • Germline determination strategies, like sex determination, employ diverse pathways to achieve similar reproductive outcomes.
  • Understanding these contrasting mechanisms provides insights into conserved developmental processes and evolutionary adaptations.
  • Further research can elucidate the continuum of germline determination evolution and its parallels with sex determination.