Gametes, fertilization and embryonic growth.

The aim of this chapter is to examine the multiplying stages of cell division, morula, blastocysts, conceptus and early post-conceptus stages during embryo development in livestock animals. A secondary aim of this chapter is to embrace briefly the new technologies which seek to improve genetic gain as their success depends very much on what happens during cell division and in which affects subsequently growth in utero and size at birth. Topics include: meiosis, gametes, and fertilization, meiosis and gametogenesis, gametes and fertilization, embryonic development, blastocyst formation and hatching, gastrulation and tubulation, the uterus, placenta and embryonic attachment, post-gastrulation and post-tubulation embryonic development and new technologies and embryo growth.