Chemical reprogramming offers an unprecedented opportunity to control somatic cell fate
and generate desired cell types including pluripotent stem cells for applications in …

Though totipotency and pluripotency are transient during early embryogenesis, they
establish the foundation for the development of all mammals. Studying these in vivo has …

In mice, only the zygotes and blastomeres from 2-cell embryos are authentic totipotent stem
cells (TotiSCs) capable of producing all the differentiated cells in both embryonic and …

It is challenging to derive totipotent stem cells in vitro that functionally and molecularly
resemble cells from totipotent embryos. Here, we report that a chemical cocktail enables the …

In human embryos, major zygotic genome activation (ZGA) initiates at the eight-cell (8C)
stage. Abnormal ZGA leads to developmental defects and even contributes to the failure of …

Despite advances in four-factor (4F)-induced reprogramming (4FR) in vitro and in vivo, how
4FR interconnects with senescence remains largely under investigated. Here, using genetic …

Generating cells with the molecular and functional properties of embryo cells and with full
developmental potential is an aim with fundamental biological significance. Here we report …

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are evolutionary remnants of retroviral infections in which
the viral genome became embedded as a dormant regulatory element within the host …

Highlights•Cellular models can recapitulate some aspects of embryonic genome
activation.•Multiple factors regulate embryonic genome activation.•Several types of totipotent …

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is critical for embryonic development. However, our
understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of human EGA is still incomplete. Human …