title: Mouse germ cell development: from specification to sex determination.
abstract: Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are embryonic progenitors for the gametes. In the gastrulating mouse embryo, a small group of cells begin expressing a unique set of genes and so commit to the germline. Over the next 3-5 days, these PGCs migrate anteriorly and increase rapidly in number via mitotic division before colonizing the newly formed gonads. PGCs then express a different set of unique genes, their inherited epigenetic imprint is erased and an individual methylation imprint is established, and for female PGCs, the silent X chromosome is reactivated. At this point, germ cells (GCs) commit to either a female or male sexual lineage, denoted by meiosis entry and mitotic arrest, respectively. This developmental program is determined by cues emanating from the somatic environment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Genetics and Development, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ewen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koopman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D050437:Genes, Developmental; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development*; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012730:Sex Chromosomes; D019849:Sex Determination Processes