Embryos gaining independence

After fertilization, the genome of the embryo is transcriptionally inactive and maternally deposited RNA and proteins perform cellular functions. During a process called maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) the zygotes’ own transcriptional program is activated and maternal transcripts are cleared. The labs of Stefan Ameres (Max Perutz Labs, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, IMBA) and Andrea Pauli (Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, IMP) have developed a method that allowed the scientists to gain detailed insights into the organization of gene expression during this first major developmental transition in the life of vertebrates. Their findings have now been published in Cell Reports.