The Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition provides users with an expert accounting of the mechanisms and functions of this transition in a range of animal and plant models. The book provides critical information on how maternal gene products program the initial development of all animal and plant embryos, then undergoing a series of events, termed the maternal-to-zygotic transition, during which maternal products are cleared and zygotic genome activation takes over the developmental control. - Maternal gene products program the initial development of all animal and plant embryos - These then undergo a series of events, termed the maternal-to-zygotic transition, during which maternal products are cleared and zygotic genome activation takes over developmental control - In this book, experts provide their insights into the mechanisms and functions of this transition in a range of animal and plant models.