title: Molecular signatures of bovine embryo developmental competence.
abstract: Assessment of the developmental capacity of early bovine embryos is still an obstacle. Therefore, the present paper reviews all current knowledge with respect to morphological criteria and environmental factors that affect embryo quality. The molecular signature of an oocyte or embryo is considered to reflect its quality and to predict its subsequent developmental capacity. Therefore, the primary aim of the present review is to provide an overview of reported correlations between molecular signatures and developmental competence. A secondary aim of this paper is to present some new strategies to enable concomitant evaluation of the molecular signatures of specific embryos and individual developmental capacity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Science, Animal Breeding and Husbandry Group, University of Bonn, Endenicher Alle 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoelker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salilew-Wondim
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schellander
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tesfaye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005838:Genotype; D040941:Heredity; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000662:veterinary*