My project builds on research conducted by the Niakan group to advance our understanding of the genes that regulate the development of the early human embryo. I aim to characterise the development of support structures that surround embryos before the embryo implants into the uterus. I will compare the mechanisms of development among mouse, cow, and donated human embryos to better understand the developmental similarities and differences between these species. Utilising recent advances in genomic technologies, I hope to characterise the key genomic elements of each species that are essential for the correct development of the pre-implantation embryo.
