EpiCenter publication: early mammalian germ cells are highly sensitive to environmental exposures

In mammalian embryos, the early germ cells, termed Primordial Germ Cells, undergo a highly specialized differentiation program associated with a profound reprogramming of their epigenome. Here, we tested the sensitivity of mouse primordial germ cells to a model environmental chemical, the plastic manufacturing chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), and show that while primordial germ cells may "look" normal, their molecular program is strongly affected with aberrant X-linked and retrotransposon desilencing.

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