Bioscientifica Proceedings

Widespread adoption of artificial insemination as a breeding practice has allowed for expanded use of desirable genetics from specific sires and greatly influenced production traits in dairy cattle populations worldwide. In fact, the average dairy cow in the US in 2009 produced 4.5 times more milk than in 1940 when commercialization of artificial insemination began. While many factors have contributed to this rapid increase in levels of milk production, genetic gain through ex...

Activation of its genome is amongst the essential task the embryo has to undertake following fertilization of the egg. In animal and plants, this activation follows a period of transcriptional silence, which is made necessary by the requirement for an almost complete and functional reprogramming of the DNA coming from both gametes. The process by which DNA is silenced, reprogrammed and reactivated is not fully understood yet but progresses are being made, especially with the h...