Mapping, modeling, and reprogramming cell-fate decision making systems

TL;DR

This paper explores how mathematical models can elucidate and manipulate cell-fate decision systems across diverse organisms, emphasizing design principles for understanding and reprogramming cellular behavior.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive discussion on modeling cell-fate decisions, highlighting design principles and their application in reprogramming cellular systems.

Findings

Mathematical models reveal key design principles of cell-fate decisions.

Understanding these principles enables reprogramming of cellular behavior.

The approach applies to both multicellular and single-celled organisms.

Abstract

Many cellular processes involve information processing and decision making. We can probe these processes at increasing molecular detail. The analysis of heterogeneous data remains a challenge that requires new ways of thinking about cells in quantitative, predictive, and mechanistic ways. We discuss the role of mathematical models in the context of cell-fate decision making systems across the tree of life. Complex multi-cellular organisms have been a particular focus, but single celled organisms also have to sense and respond to their environment. We center our discussion around the idea of design principles which we can learn from observations and modeling, and exploit in order to (re)-design or guide cellular behavior.