Maternal-to-zygotic Transition

This lecture by the instructor covers the Maternal-to-zygotic Transition (MZT) in early embryos, discussing terms like Mid-blastula transition and Zygotic genome activation. It explores the timing of MZT in different species, the activation of cyclin/Cdk complexes at mitosis, and the role of factors like Zelda and cyclin B3. The lecture also delves into the regulation of MZT timing, the function of checkpoints in the cell cycle, and the impact of maternal mRNAs on development. Through examples from Xenopus and Drosophila, the gradual prolongation of S phase and the cellularization process are explained, highlighting the underlying mechanisms and key points of MZT.