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Related Concept Videos

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation01:10

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation

6.4K
The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
6.4K
Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

91.0K
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...
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Spermatogenesis01:22

Spermatogenesis

8.3K
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...
8.3K
Gastrulation01:56

Gastrulation

52.8K
Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata...
52.8K
Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

68.8K
During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
68.8K
Cleavage and Blastulation01:33

Cleavage and Blastulation

42.3K
After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.
42.3K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
12:06

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

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How to make a primordial germ cell.

Erna Magnúsdóttir1, M Azim Surani

  • 1Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|January 2, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are essential for creating new life. Scientists can now generate these vital cells from stem cells, advancing reproductive biology research.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Reproductive biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the foundational cells for sperm and egg development.
  • PGCs are crucial for transmitting genetic and epigenetic information across generations.
  • Understanding PGC specification is key to mammalian reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the fundamental principles of PGC specification in early development.
  • To discuss current methods for generating mouse PGCs in vitro.
  • To explore the potential of PGCs derived from pluripotent stem cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established principles in PGC specification.
  • Discussion of techniques for deriving PGCs from embryonic stem cells.
Keywords:
Epigenetic programmingPrimordial germ cellsSpecificationTranscription factors

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Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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  • Exploration of reprogramming somatic cells into pluripotent cells for PGC generation.

    • Main Results:

    • Established principles of PGC specification are summarized.
    • Methods for generating mouse PGCs from pluripotent stem cells are detailed.
    • The feasibility of deriving PGCs from reprogrammed somatic cells is discussed.

    Conclusions:

    • PGC specification is a fundamental process in mammalian development.
    • In vitro generation of PGCs from stem cells is achievable.
    • This research opens avenues for understanding and manipulating germline development.