A LARGE PORTION OF ESTABLISHED PREGNANCIES FAIL IN DAIRY AND BEEF CATTLE DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF GESTATION. THE SPECIFIC REASONS FOR THESE PREGNANCY FAILURES REMAINS LARGELY UNKNOWN. THIS RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT THAT MAY SHED NEW LIGHT ONTO THE CAUSES OF PREGNNACY FAILURES IN CATTLE. WE PROPOSE THAT THE EMBRYO CAN CONTROL ITS OWN FATE BY PRODUCING CERTAIN MOLECULES THAT ACT BACK ON ITSELF AND CONTROL EARLY EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS WORK WILL EXPLORE WHETHER THESE MOLECULES FUNCTION AS PREDICTED, AND EVAULATE WHETHER SUPPLEMENTING CULTURED EMBRYOW WITH GREATER AMOUNTS OF THESE MOLECULES WILL IMPROVE EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT, ENABLE EMBRYOS TO MAINTAIN A PREGNANCY TO TERM, AND PRODUCE VIABLE, PRODUCTIVE OFFSPRING. THE ANTICIPATED IMPACTS OF THIS WORK INCLUDE, CONDUCTING BASIC RESEARCH TO DISCOVER NEW BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES, FILLING CRITICAL GAPS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHY PREGNANCIES FAIL IN CATTLE, AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS THAT MAY IMPROVE PREGNANCY RETENTION IN CATTLE. THIS WORK IS ANTICIPATED TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON DAIRY AND BEEF COW OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY.