The egg-to-embryo transition: molecular basis and developmental control

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The oocyte (or egg) possesses the astonishing property that, when fertilized by a sperm, it can give rise to a new individual. How the egg is converted to an embryo remains one of the great mysteries of biology and is the focus of intense research around the world. Scientists have known for many years that the developing egg accumulates an enormous store of mitochondria, which are organelles in the cytoplasm that provide the energy to keep cells active and alive. This large supply is essential because the new embryo does not make mitochondria and so relies entirely on the supply that it inherits at fertilization. Later, however, the embryo begins to make mitochondria. We know almost nothing however of how the oocyte manufactures mitochondria, why the early embryo doesn't, and how older embryos restart the manufacturing process. The goal of our research is to learn how oocytes and embryos make mitochondria. Since all cells have mitochondria, we hope that our results will help researchers in other fields as well.