Tiziana A.L Brevini is Associate Professor of Anatomy and Embryology at the University of Milan, Italy. She graduated in 1989 and spent three years at the Department of Molecular Embryology, Cambridge (UK). She obtained a PhD in 1994 and then carried out research programs at Monash University, Melbourne and at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Her main area of research is addressed to the understanding of cell differentiation process and pluripotency related networks in mammalian cells and embryos. Georgia Pennarossa is lecturer at the University of Milan, Italy. Graduated in 2007, she obtained a PhD in Biotechnology in 2012. She has been actively involved in research for the last 5 years at the Unit of Biomedical Embryology, University of Milan, Italy. Her scientific interest is addressed to the understanding of the main aspects related to gametogenesis, embryo development and cell differentiation.

• Gametogenesis: Primordial germ cells; Mitosis and Meiosis; Maturation of the female gamete; Imprinting and epigenetic regulation; Fertilization; Oocyte activation.- Early embryo development: Syngamy and spindle formation; Cleavage, compaction and blastulation; Cell commitment and Waddington model of epigenetic restriction.  Asymmetric imprinting; Establishment of the body axis.- Stem cells and gametogenesis: Oocyte competence and potency; Oocyte as a source of uniparental pluripotent cells; Spindles of uniparental origin in mammals; Stem cells as a source of oocytes.