Incluye referencias bibliográficas

Introduction: a brief guide to the periconception environment / Alireza Fazeli, William V. Holt -- Epigenetic influences during the periconception period and assisted reproduction / Akwasi A. Amoako, Tamer M. Nafee [and others] -- The importance of the periconception period: immediate effects in cattle breeding and in assisted reproduction such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer / Mieke Van Eetvelde, Sonia Heras, J. L. M. R. Leroy, Ann Van Soom, Geert Opsomer -- The consequences of maternal-embryonic cross talk during the periconception period on subsequent embryonic development / Dimitrios Rizos, Veronica Maillo, Maria-Jesús Sá́nchez-Calabuig [and others] -- The role of maternal nutrition during the periconceptional period and its effect on offspring phenotype / Tom P. Fleming, Judith J. Eckert, Oleg Denisenko -- The long-term effect of the periconception period on the embryo's epigenetic profile and phenotype: the role of maternal disease such as diabetes and how the effect is mediated (example from a rabbit model) / Bernd Fischer, Maria Schindler, S. Mareike Pendzialek, Jacqueline Gürke, Elisa Haucke [and others] -- Long-term effects of the periconception period on embryo epigenetic profile and phenotype: the role of stress and how this effect is mediated / James Ord, Alireza Fazeli, Penelope J. Watt -- The long-term effects of the periconceptional period on embryo epigenetic profile and phenotype; the paternal role and his contribution, and how males can affect offspring's phenotype/epigenetic profile / Emma S. Lucas, Adam J. Watkins -- Exploitation of non-mammalian model organisms in epigenetic research / William V. Holt.

"This book presents a timely collection of reviews by experts in periconception and fertilization. The book provides a good introduction for those new to the field as well as those who have worked in this field for some time, but not have been able to keep up-to-date with recent advances on the topic. The book reviews the current knowledge in this field, then focuses its attention on short-term and long-term effects of the periconception period, both from a physiological and medical perspective. Finally the volume covers the examination of the potential mechanisms involved in controlling periconception period. From the early days of discovery about the basics of the fertilization process, scientist shave known that early events happening during conception play a major part in the creation of new offspring. However, until nearly a decade ago we thought these events were just concerned with the conception and nothing to do with lifelong health and welfare, or wellbeing of the offspring. Early indications from IVF in sheep and cattle suggested that the embryo culture conditions employed in the laboratory could result in unusually large and unhealthy offspring. These observations sounded alarm bells and stimulated research into the impacts of in vivo and in vitro conditions on the health of embryos and offspring. This book provides a summary of the state-of-the-art research being done to more fully understand the importance of the periconception environment"--Publisher's description.