Polarity in Cell-Fate Acquisition in the Early Mouse Embryo

Establishing polarity is a fundamental part of embryogenesis and can be traced back to the earliest developmental stages. It can be achieved in one of two ways: through the preexisting polarization of germ cells before fertilization or via symmetry breaking after fertilization. In mammals, it seems to be the latter, and we will discuss the various cytological and molecular events that lead up to this event, its mechanisms and the consequences. In mammals, the first polarization event occurs in the preimplantation period, when the embryo is but a cluster of cells, free-floating in the oviduct. This provides a unique, autonomous system to study the de novo polarization that is essential to life. In this review, we will cover modern and past studies on the polarization of the early embryo, using the mouse as a model system, as well as hypothesizing the potential implications and functions of the biological events involved.