Germ cells play a unique role in gamete production, heredity and evolution. Therefore, to
understand the mechanisms that specify germ cells is a central challenge in developmental …

The evolutionarily conserved Argonaute/PIWI (AGO/PIWI, also known as PAZ-PIWI domain
or PPD) family of proteins is crucial for the biogenesis and function of small noncoding RNAs …

To understand the origins and function of the human germ cell lineage and to identify germ
cell-specific markers we have isolated a human ortholog of the Drosophila gene vasa. The …

Asymmetrically distributed cytoplasmic determinants collectively termed germ plasm have
been shown to play an essential role in the development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) …

The world's population is increasing at an alarming rate and is projected to reach nine billion
by 2050. Despite this, 15% of couples world-wide remain childless because of infertility. Few …

The topipotency of the germline is the full manifestation of the pluri-and multipotency of
embryonic and adult stem cells, thus the germline and stem cells must share common …

Little is known of molecular requirements for specification of human germ cells. However, it
is likely that they are specified through the action of sequentially expressed genes just as in …

In most animals, primordial germ cell (PGC) specification and development depend on
maternally provided cytoplasmic determinants that constitute the so-called germ plasm [1–5] …

Sponges (Porifera) are among the earliest evolving metazoans. Their filter-feeding body
plan based on choanocyte chambers organized into a complex aquiferous system is so …

The vasa gene, essential for germ-cell development, was originally identified in Drosophila,
and has since been found in other invertebrates and vertebrates. Analysis of these vasa …