Expression profiling of DNA repair genes in human oocytes and blastocysts using microarrays

Abstract

Despite experimental limitations due to culture or freezing and thawing of samples, large numbers of repair genes were detected indicating that all DNA repair pathways are potentially functional in human oocytes and blastocysts. The higher mRNA level for most repair genes in oocytes compared with blastocysts ensures sufficient availability of template until embryonic genome activation.