A method for evaluating the quality of mammalian oocytes comprises determining the expression level of one or more of the genes ACPP, AQP11, CCDC126, CLU, CYP11 A1, CYP19A1, EGR3, FN1, FOSL2, GMNN, HRAS, HSD3B2, HS-D17B1, HSD11B2, HSDL1, IGF1, IGFBP4, IGFBP5, IRS1, KCNK3, KLF6, NEK6, SMAD7 or STC1 in a test sample derived from a cumulus cell or granulosa cell associated with the oocyte, and comparing the expression level of said at least one marker gene expression in the sample with the expression level in a control. Differential expression of the gene between the sample and the control is indicative of the quality of the oocyte.