title: Modeling bistable cell-fate choices in the Drosophila eye: qualitative and quantitative perspectives.
abstract: A major goal of developmental biology is to understand the molecular mechanisms whereby genetic signaling networks establish and maintain distinct cell types within multicellular organisms. Here, we review cell-fate decisions in the developing eye of Drosophila melanogaster and the experimental results that have revealed the topology of the underlying signaling circuitries. We then propose that switch-like network motifs based on positive feedback play a central role in cell-fate choice, and discuss how mathematical modeling can be used to understand and predict the bistable or multistable behavior of such networks.
authors.affiliation: Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas G W
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: S M Ali
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tabei
authors.forename: Aaron R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dinner
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rebay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics