BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

An Important Development

Gene called Igf2bp3 has a vital role in embryo development

24 August 2021

An Important Development

The journey towards making the next generation starts at the very earliest stages of life. Certain special cells, known as germ cells, that will go on to form eggs or sperm in the adult are marked out in every embryo within the first few days of development. Researchers have discovered that zebrafish embryos with a faulty version of a gene called Igf2bp3, like the one shown here, usually develop as males. If any do become females, then they tend to have defective eggs. Looking more closely, they noticed that a region called the yolk syncytial layer, sandwiched in between the green and blue parts in this image, is larger than normal in these defective embryos, which could explain why they don’t develop properly. The Igf2bp3 gene has counterparts in other species, including our own, so this research could shed light on problems with sex development and infertility in humans too.

Written by Kat Arney

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.