Review: A barnyard in the lab: prospect of generating animal germ cells for breeding and conservation

Strange, A.; Alberio, R.

Abstract

In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) offers broad opportunities for gaining detailed new mechanistic knowledge of germ cell biology that will enable progress in the understanding of human infertility, as well as for applications in the conservation of endangered species and for accelerating genetic selection of livestock. The realisation of this potential depends on overcoming key technical challenges and of gaining more detailed knowledge of the ontogeny and developmental programme in different species. Important differences in the molecular mechanisms of germ cell determination and epigenetic reprogramming between mice and other animals have been elucidated in recent years. These must be carefully considered when developing IVG protocols, as cellular kinetics in mice may not accurately reflect mechanisms in other mammals. Similarly, diverse stem cell models with potential for germ cell differentiation may reflect alternative routes to successful IVG. In conclusion, the fidelity of the developmental programme recapitulated during IVG must be assessed against reference information from each species to ensure the production of healthy animals using these methods, as well as for developing genuine models of gametogenesis.

Citation

Strange, A., & Alberio, R. (2023). Review: A barnyard in the lab: prospect of generating animal germ cells for breeding and conservation. Animal, 17, Article 100753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100753

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Feb 20, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Deposit Date: Sep 27, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 20, 2023
• Journal: Animal
• Print ISSN: 1751-7311
• Electronic ISSN: 1751-732X
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Article Number: 100753
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100753
• Keywords: Animal Science and Zoology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/24148831
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Review: A barnyard in the lab: prospect of generating animal germ cells for breeding and conservation; Journal Title: animal; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100753; Content Type: article; Copyright: Crown Copyright © 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Animal Consortium.