Visualising subcellular spatiotemporal dynamics of RNA and organelles orchestrating mammalian preimplantation embryogenesis

During mammalian preimplantation embryo development, cells must decide between becoming pluripotent inner cells, giving rise to the foetus or outer trophectoderm cells, forming extra-embryonic tissues. This thesis uses advanced imaging technologies to decipher the intricate workings of RNA, proteins, organelles and the microtubule-cytoskeleton inside cells of the preimplantation mouse embryo. We uncover how cellular organisation acts synergistically with gene expression to regulate cell fate. These findings provide insights into the cell biology underlying pluripotency and cell fate determination. We envision this research will contribute to advancements in the fields of in vitro fertilisation and regenerative medicine.