Genome maintenance during embryogenesis is critical, because defects during this period can be perpetuated and thus have a long-term impact on individual’s health and longevity. Nevertheless, genome instability is normal during certain aspects of embryonic development, indicating that there is a balance between the exigencies of timely cell proliferation and mutation prevention. In particular, early embryos possess unique cellular and molecular features that underscore the challenge of having an appropriate balance. Here, we discuss genome instability during embryonic development, the mechanisms used in various cell compartments to manage genomic stress and address outstanding questions regarding the balance between genome maintenance mechanisms in key cell types that are important for adulthood and progeny.

胚胎发生期间的基因组维护至关重要，因为在此期间的缺陷可能会持续存在，从而对个体的健康和寿命产生长期影响。然而，在胚胎发育的某些方面，基因组不稳定是正常的，这表明及时细胞增殖和突变预防的紧迫性之间存在平衡。特别是，早期胚胎拥有独特的细胞和分子特征，强调了保持适当平衡的挑战。在这里，我们讨论了胚胎发育过程中的基因组不稳定性、各种细胞区室中用于管理基因组压力的机制，并解决了对成年和后代很重要的关键细胞类型中基因组维持机制之间平衡的悬而未决的问题。