Cell Fate Decisions During Preimplantation Mammalian Development

Abstract

The early mouse embryo offers a phenomenal system to dissect how changes in themechanisms controlling cell fate are integrated with morphogenetic events at thesingle-cell level. New technologies based on live imaging have enabled the discoveryof dynamic changes in the regulation of single genes, transcription factors, and epigenetic mechanisms directing early cell fate decision in the early embryo. Here, we reviewrecent progress in linking molecular dynamic events occurring at the level of the singlecell in vivo, to some of the key morphogenetic changes regulating early mousedevelopment.