Parthenogenetic Activation of Oocytes

Numerous studies have been initiated to investigate the influence of maternal and paternal genomes on early mammalian development. For this type of study, parthenogenetic embryos provide a unique source of preimplantation and early postimplantation embryos that (by definition) develop in the absence of any contribution from a male gamete. Parthenogenetic activation is used for biochemical and morphological studies of oocytes during fertilization and early development and is a critical component of the cloning procedure. This protocol describes the activation of oocytes using ethanol. Parthenogenesis can also be induced by exposure of unfertilized oocytes to strontium-containing medium.