The meiotic checkpoint in mouse oocytes: a duel role in protecting genomic integrity Event

Genomic integrity is of great importance during the production of a fertilisable egg. Eggs with the wrong number of chromosomes, or highly damaged DNA will be unsuitable for further development, potentially leading to apparent subfertility, miscarriage or offspring with chromosomal abnormalities.

The talk will cover recent insights into how oocytes control the first meiotic division that gives rise to the egg. In particular, how they respond to the challenges of correctly segregating their chromosomes, and to damaged DNA.

Surprisingly these two different challenges have much common ground at the molecular level and raise interesting questions about the roles of checkpoints in oocyte physiology.