Importin α7 is essential for zygotic genome activation and early mouse development.

Importin α is involved in the nuclear import of proteins. It also contributes to spindle assembly and nuclear membrane formation, however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we studied the function of importin α7 by gene targeting in mice and show that it is essential for early embryonic development.

Development of parthenogenetic rat embryos.

In an effort to establish cloning technology for the rat, we tested several methods (electric stimulation, treatment with ethanol or strontium) for the parthenogenetic activation of rat oocytes. We observed marked individual differences among rats of the outbred Wistar strain in their ability to yield activatable oocytes. These differences were independent of the activation protocol and may be due to a genetic predisposition that is crucial for the parthenogenetic activation of oocytes.