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Preimplantation Mouse Embryo: Developmental Fate and Potency of Blastomeres

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Mouse Development

Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS,volume 55))

Abstract

During the past decade we have witnessed great progress in the understanding of cellular, molecular, and epigenetic aspects of preimplantation mouse development. However, some of the issues, especially those regarding the nature and regulation of mouse development, are still unresolved and controversial and raise heated discussion among mammalian embryologists. This chapter presents different standpoints and various research approaches aimed at examining the fate and potency of cells (blastomeres) of mouse preimplantation embryo. In dealing with this subject, it is important to recognize the difference between the fate of blastomere and the prospective potency of blastomere, with the first being its contribution to distinct tissues during normal development, and the second being a full range of its developmental capabilities, which can be unveiled only by experimental perturbation of the embryo. Studies of the developmental potential and the fate of blastomeres are of the utmost importance as they may lead to future clinical application in reproductive and regenerative medicine.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to dedicate this work to Professor A.K. Tarkowski, my mentor, as an expression of respect for his work and scientific achievements. I am grateful to Professor A.K. Tarkowski, Professor M. Kloc, Dr. J. Kubiak, and Professor M. Maleszewski for critical reading and valuable suggestions. During the preparation of this work Aneta Suwinska was supported by the grant in the framework of PARENT-BRIDGE Programme from the Foundation for Polish Science POMOST/2010-1/9 and a grant from Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education N N301 311637.

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  1. Department of Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland

    Aneta SuwiƄska

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  1. Aneta SuwiƄska
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Correspondence to Aneta SuwiƄska .

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  1. CNRS UMR 6061, Fac. Médecine, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes CX, 35043, France

    Jacek Z. Kubiak

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SuwiƄska, A. (2012). Preimplantation Mouse Embryo: Developmental Fate and Potency of Blastomeres. In: Kubiak, J. (eds) Mouse Development. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, vol 55. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30406-4_8

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