Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development (CRESCO)

Some of the most profound events in the life of an organism, with far-reaching consequences for development and health, happen during the very early stages of existence. These events include formation of egg and sperm, fertilization and reprogramming of genes during early embryo development. Despite its evolutionary conservation, conception is associated with genetic errors and an unexpectedly high frequency of pregnancy loss and disorders. In CRESCO, we propose to use cutting-edge technology to study in exquisite detail the roles of genetic reprogramming in oocyte and the early embryo, including their functions in genetic stability and chromosome segregation. An overarching goal is to understand the role of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic information in the passing of life from one generation to the next in the One Health perspective. Epigenetics and epitranscriptomics refers to chemical modification on proteins, DNA and RNA that affect gene regulation without changing the genetic code. We will identify genes that have unique roles in genetic reprogramming and that is required for healthy embryo development. Livestock will add a crucial dimension, especially as the breeding focus for several decades has resulted in Norwegian cattle and swine being world-leaders in reproductive efficacy. We envision technological breakthroughs: stepping beyond genetic selection of human preimplantation embryos and animals, we set to discover pathways that effect germline and embryonic defects to improve human and livestock health. CRESCO combine complementary expertise on gene regulation, DNA repair and genome (in)stability, single-cell and single-nucleotide analysis, embryology and healthy development.

Some of the most profound events in the life of an organism, with far-reaching consequences for development and health, happen during the very early stages of existence. These include completion of meiosis, merging of parental genomes at fertilization, and reprogramming of chromatin during early embryo development. Despite its evolutionary conservation, conception is associated with chromosome errors and an unexpectedly high frequency of pregnancy loss and congenital disorders. In CRESCO, we propose to use cutting-edge technology to study in exquisite detail the roles of dynamic and reversible epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications in oocyte and the early embryo, including their functions in genome stability, chromosome segregation and retrotransposon activity. An overarching goal is to understand the role of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic information in the passing of life from one generation to the next in the One Health perspective. We will design gene-targeted models and use single-cell and single-nucleotide resolution analysis to gain precise information on novel and known epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications required for maintaining chromosomal homeostasis during reprogramming of the oocyte and the early embryo. Candidate factors identified will be pursued to understand their roles in healthy human and livestock embryo development. Livestock will add a crucial dimension, especially as the breeding focus for several decades has resulted in Norwegian cattle and swine being world-leaders in reproductive efficacy. We envision technological breakthroughs: stepping beyond genetic selection of human preimplantation embryos and animals, we set to discover pathways that effect germline and embryonic defects to improve human and livestock health. CRESCO combine complementary expertise on epigenetic and epitranscriptomic modifications, DNA repair and genome (in)stability, single-cell and single-nucleotide analysis, embryology and healthy development.