ABSTRACT
The normal progression of fertilization of mammalian oocytes followed by cleavage, blastocyst formation and implantation is dependent upon the successful activation of specific genetic and developmental programs. Successful interaction of the paternal and maternal gametes is required for normal embryonic development. The oocyte controls several important aspects of meiosis, fertilization and early cleavage, and modulates the epigenetic development of the embryonic genome that manifests later in embryogenesis1.
