title: On the segregation of the germ and somatic cell lines in the embryo.
abstract: In this paper we argue that the mechanisms underlying the segregation of the somatic and germ cell lines are basically similar. The interaction of the genome with specific cytoplasmic factors is responsible for the restriction of their developmental potencies in the somatic cell lines, and for the prevention of such a restriction in the germ cell line. In particular, it is suggested that meiosis is part of the differentiation program of the germ cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000196:embryology; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology; D008540:Meiosis; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D014561:Urochordata / Q000196:embryology; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000502:physiology