References

Castrillon DH, Quade BJ, Want TY, Quigley C and Crum CP (2000) The human VASA gene is specifically expressed in the germ cell lineage. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 97: 9585–9590.

Eddy EM (1975) Germ plasm and the differentiation of the germ cell line. International Review of Cytology 43: 229–280.

Jaruzelska J, Kotecki M, Kusz K, Spik A and Reijo Pera RA (2002) Conservation of the Pumilio–Nanos complex in germ cells from flies to humans. Human Reproduction Abstracts 2002 Ms O‐017: 1–2. (Available online: see Web Links)

Ruggiu M, Speed R, Taggart M, et al. (1997) The mouse Dazla gene encodes a cytoplasmic protein essential for gametogenesis. Nature 389: 73–77.

Saitou M, Barton SC and Surani A (2002) A molecular programme for the specification of germ cell fate in mice. Nature 418: 293–300.

Tanaka SS, Toyooka Y, Akasu R, et al. (2000) The mouse homolog of Drosophila Vasa is required for the development of male germ cells. Genes and Development 14: 841–853.

Toyooka Y, Tsunekawa N, Takahashi Y, et al. (2000) Expression and intracellular localization of mouse Vasa‐homologue protein during germ cell development. Mechanisms of Development 93: 139–149.

Viebahn C, Miething A and Warterberg H (1998) Primordial germ cells of the rabbit are specifically recognized by a monoclonal antibody labeling the perimitochondrial cytoplasm. Histochemistry and Cell Biology 109: 49–58.

Xu EY, Moore FL and Reijo Pera RA (2001) A gene family required for human germ cell development evolved from an ancient meiotic gene conserved in metazoans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 98: 7414–7419.

Zhou G‐Q and Garbers DL (2002) Male germ cell specification and differentiation. Development Cell 2: 537–547.

Further Reading

Anderson R, Heasman J and Wylie C (2001) Early events in mammalian germ line. International Review of Cytology 203: 215–230.

Deng W and Lin H (2002) miwi, a murine homolog of piwi, encodes a cytoplasmic protein essential for spermatogenesis. Developmental Cell 2: 819–830.

Houston DW and King ML (2000) Germ plasm and molecular determinants of germ cell fate. Current Topics in Developmental Biology 50: 155–181.

Johnson AD, Bachvarova RF, Drum M and Masi T (2001) Expression of axolotl DAZL RNA, a marker of germ plasm: widespread maternal RNA and onset of expression in germ cells approaching the gonad. Developmental Biology 234: 402–415.

Mahowald AP (2001) Assembly of the Drosophila germ plasm. International Review of Cytology 203: 187–213.

Nieuwkoop PD and Satusura LA (1979) Primordial Germ Cells in the Chordates, Developmental and Cell Biology, vol 7, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Seydoux G and Schedl T (2001) The germline in C. elegans. International Review of Cytology 203: 139–185.

Tsunekawa N, Naito M, Sakai Y, Nishida T and Noce T (2000) Isolation of chicken vasa homolog gene and tracing the origin of primordial germ cells. Development 127: 2741–2750.

Wylie C (1999) Germ cells. Cell 96: 165–174.

Web Links

Jaruzelska J, Kotecki M, Kusz K, Spik A and Reijo Pera RA (2002) Conservation of the Pumilio‐Nanos complex in germ cells from flies to humans. Human Reproduction Abstracts 2002 http://conf.eshre.com/PDF/O‐017.pdf

Bol, boule‐like (Drosophila) (BOLL); Locus ID: 66037. LocusLink: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/LocusLink/LocRpt.cgi?l=66037

Deleted in azoospermia (DAZ); Locus ID: 1617. LocusLink: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/LocusLink/LocRpt.cgi?l=1617

Deleted in azoospermia‐like (DAZL); Locus ID: 1618. LocusLink: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/LocusLink/LocRpt.cgi?l=1618

Bol, boule‐like (Drosophila) (BOLL); MIM number: 606165. OMIM: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin‐post/Omim/dispmim?606165

Deleted in azoospermia (DAZ); MIM number: 400003. OMIM: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin‐post/Omim/dispmim?400003

Deleted in azoospermia‐like (DAZL); MIM number: 601486. OMIM: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin‐post/Omim/dispmim?601486