cellular fusion
Cell fusion is a process that is crucial at many intersections later during development.
Molecules (fusogens) fuse the membranes of gametes to form zygotes, myoblasts to form myotubes in muscles, macrophages to form osteoclasts in bones, or cytotrophoblasts to form syncytiotrophoblasts in placentas.
The ability to fuse cells is shared by many viruses, including common human pathogens and several endogenous viruses.
References
Oren-Suissa M, Podbilewicz B. Cell fusion during development. Trends Cell Biol. 2007 Nov;17(11):537-46. PMID: #17981036#
Duelli D, Lazebnik Y. Cell-to-cell fusion as a link between viruses and cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. 2007 Dec;7(12):968-76. PMID: #18034186#
Rodic N, Rutenberg MS, Terada N. Cell fusion and reprogramming: resolving our transdifferences. Trends Mol Med. 2004 Mar;10(3):93-6. PMID: #15106589#