Medicina Molecular e Genética

Short Notes on Importance of Chicken Primordial Germ Cells

Abstract

Marie Tortora

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors of gametes in the developing embryo. These cells are specified early in embryonic development and have the ability to differentiate into sperm or ova depending on the sex of the individual. In birds, PGCs are formed in the early blastoderm stage, and migrate to the gonads where they differentiate into sperm or ova. The formation of PGCs in birds, particularly in chickens, has been extensively studied due to its importance in understanding avian reproduction and its potential applications in the field of reproductive biology. This essay will discuss the process of chicken PGC formation and the factors that influence this process. The early development of the chicken embryo begins with the fertilization of the ovum by the sperm. The zygote undergoes several cell divisions to form a hollow ball of cells called the blastoderm. At this stage, the embryo is still a single layer of cells, with a central area called the area pellucida and an outer area called the area opaca. The area pellucida is a clear region that is surrounded by the thicker, opaque area opaca. The blastoderm consists of two regions: the prospective embryo, which will give rise to the various organs and tissues of the body, and the extra-embryonic region, which will form the placenta and other supporting tissues.