We study the development of mammalian germ cells. Some of our work focuses on men who are infertile because of genetic defects disrupting germ cell development. We conduct additional studies in mice. Our work also sheds light on the evolutionary origins of the mammalian sex chromosomes.
Germ cells play central roles in animal development, heredity, and evolution.
In mammals, germ cells are the first cell type to be allocated within the embryo proper. They are first discernible outside the portion of the embryo that will form the body. These primordial germ cells invade the developing body and migrate to the gonads, which at that stage are indistinguishable in males and females. The gonads differentiate into ovaries or testes. In parallel, the primordial germ cells become committed to give rise to oocytes or sperm.