Germline development in vertebrates and invertebrates.
In all animals information is passed from parent to offspring via the germline, which segregates from the soma early in development and undergoes a complex developmental program to give rise to the adult gametes. Many aspects of germline development have been conserved throughout the animal kingdom. Here we review the unique properties of germ cells, the initial determination of germ cell fates, the maintenance of germ cell identity, the migration of germ cells to the somatic gonadal primordia and the proliferation of germ cells during development invertebrates and invertebrates. Similarities in germline development in such diverse organisms as Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Xenopus laevis and Mus musculus will be highlighted.
Saffman
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Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Lasko
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D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D009866:Oogenesis; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000502:physiology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C091675:osk protein, Drosophila; C069927:stau protein, Drosophila; D012313:RNA; C498288:DDX4 protein, human; C088269:vas protein, Drosophila; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases