Review: A barnyard in the lab: prospect of generating animal germ cells for breeding and conservation

In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) offers broad opportunities for gaining detailed new mechanistic knowledge of germ cell biology that will enable progress in the understanding of human infertility, as well as for applications in the conservation of endangered species and for accelerating genetic selection of livestock. The realisation of this potential depends on overcoming key technical challenges and of gaining more detailed knowledge of the ontogeny and developmental programme in different species. Important differences in the molecular mechanisms of germ cell determination and epigenetic reprogramming between mice and other animals have been elucidated in recent years. These must be carefully considered when developing IVG protocols, as cellular kinetics in mice may not accurately reflect mechanisms in other mammals. Similarly, diverse stem cell models with potential for germ cell differentiation may reflect alternative routes to successful IVG. In conclusion, the fidelity of the developmental programme recapitulated during IVG must be assessed against reference information from each species to ensure the production of healthy animals using these methods, as well as for developing genuine models of gametogenesis. Crown Copyright (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Animal Consortium. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) has significant potential in the field of germ cell biology for understanding human infertility, conservation of endangered species, and genetic selection of livestock. Overcoming technical challenges and understanding the ontogeny and developmental programme in different species are crucial for realizing this potential. Differences in germ cell determination and epigenetic reprogramming between mice and other animals must be taken into consideration when developing IVG protocols.