How does germ cell development in mice work ... differently depending on whether they are of maternal or paternal origin, such erasure is essential to ensure that the epigenetic marks in the ...

In most multicellular organisms, meiosis is restricted to germ cells that are set aside in early development. The germ cells reside in specialized environments provided by the gonads, or sex organs.

Two weeks after a human egg is fertilized, primordial germ cells (PGCs), which develop into sperm and eggs, are formed. In six to 10 weeks after fertilization, PGCs differentiate into pro ...