Day 20 has 55 protein-coding genes. Three of these genes encode the selectin proteins: SELE, SELL, and SELP. The selectins are proteins that sit on the cell surface, where they recognize and grab on to sugar molecules that are displayed by other cells.
Selectin binding usually happens when cells in circulation, such as white blood cells or metastasizing cancer cells, are trying to crawl along the walls of blood vessels. Selectin binding is also responsible for implantation of the fertilized blastocyst into the uterus.
Click here to see your selectin genes on Day 20.