failure of the blastocyst to implant the uterine wall. Hormones relating to the failed implantation also contribute to the embryonic arrest. Once the embryo exits diapause arrest and resumes regular development, no adverse effects have been observed.

Regulation of the cell cycle as it relates to embryonic diapause has been linked to the dacapo gene in the fruit fly. This gene inhibits the formation of Cyclin E/Cdk2 complexes, which is necessary for DNA synthesis.