This review focuses on current knowledge of paternal contributions to preimplantation embryonic development with particular emphasis on large animals. Specifically, the included content aims to summarize genomic and epigenomic contributions of paternally expressed genes, their regulation, and chromatin structure that are indispensable for early embryo development. The accumulation of current knowledge will summarize conserved allelic function among species to include functional molecular and genomic studies across large domestic animals in context with reference to founding experimental models.

Summary sentence

Sperm contribute dynamic and species-specific regulation of livestock embryo development beyond transport and fertilization including genomic, epigenomic, chromatin structure, transcripts, and proteins that directly interface with the embryo genome.

Graphical Abstract