Reproduction
Summary
Reproduction encompasses the biological processes by which organisms generate new individuals and thereby sustain a species over time. In multicellular eukaryotes it generally involves specialised germ cells—sperm in the male and oocyte in the female—which arise through meiotic division and recombination to produce haploid gametes. Fertilisation of an oocyte by a sperm restores diploidy and initiates embryogenesis, a programme of cell proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis that establishes the body plan of the offspring. Hormonal signalling orchestrates gametogenesis, ovulation, fertilisation and implantation, and underpins cyclic changes in gonadal tissues. Epigenetic remodelling during gamete maturation and early embryonic development ensures the resetting of chromatin states and parental imprinting patterns. Both asexual and sexual strategies exist across the tree of life, but in animals and flowering plants sexual reproduction predominates, since it maximises genetic diversity and adaptive potential by shuffling alleles in every generation. Environmental, nutritional and physiological cues collectively regulate reproductive timing, viability of gametes and embryonic competence, all of which contribute to reproductive success and population resilience.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies in mammalian oocytes have revealed that acute genotoxic stress, such as ionising irradiation, provokes a senescence-like unfolding of heterochromatin and increased chromocentre mobility together with satellite DNA distension. These structural rearrangements coincide with activation of stress-response, DNA-repair and heterochromatin-assembly transcripts, and correlate with chromosome instability characteristic of aged oocytes. In parallel, foundational work on late oogenesis in mice has identified an in vivo transition phase from non-surrounded to surrounded nucleolus chromatin configurations that is accompanied by dynamic changes in DNA methylation and Tet-mediated oxidation. This intermediate stage governs the establishment of developmental competence and influences methylome remodelling in the resulting embryo, underscoring the critical interplay between chromatin state and oocyte quality during the periovulatory period.
Reproduction publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in reproduction across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Oocyte: The large, female germ cell that undergoes meiotic maturation to form an egg capable of fertilisation.
Chromatin: The complex of DNA and histone proteins that packages the genome and regulates gene access and expression.
Heterochromatin: Condensed chromatin domains that are transcriptionally silent and enriched in repetitive sequences.
Chromocentre: Nuclear foci formed by clustered pericentromeric heterochromatin visible under microscopy.
H3K4 methylation: The addition of methyl groups to lysine 4 of histone H3, a mark associated with active promoters and enhancers.
MicroRNA (miRNA): Small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs for degradation or translational repression.
Chromatin accessibility: The degree to which DNA is exposed and available for binding by transcription factors and regulatory proteins, often assessed by DNase or transposase-based assays.
Senescence-like chromatin structure: A nuclear state characterised by de-condensation of heterochromatin fibres, increased mobility of chromocentres and satellite DNA distension, resembling ageing cells.
References
- MiR-425-5p suppression of Crebzf regulates oocyte aging via chromatin modification. GeroScience (2023).
- The chromatin accessibility landscape of mouse oocytes during configuration transition. Cell Proliferation (2024).
- Acute irradiation induces a senescence-like chromatin structure in mammalian oocytes. Communications Biology (2023).
- H3K4 Methylation Promotes Expression of Mitochondrial Dynamics Regulators to Ensure Oocyte Quality in Mice. Advanced Science (2023).
- A transition phase in late mouse oogenesis impacts DNA methylation of the early embryo. Communications Biology (2022).
About these summaries
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