Strength of signal: a fundamental mechanism for cell fate specification

How equipotent cells develop into complex tissues containing many diverse cell types is still a mystery. However, evidence is accumulating from different tissue systems in multiple organisms that many of the specific receptor families known to regulate cell fate decisions target conserved signaling pathways. A mechanism for preserving specificity in the cellular response that has emerged from these studies is one in which quantitative differences in receptor signaling regulate the cell fate decision. A signal strength model has recently gained support as a means to explain alpha beta/gamma delta lineage commitment. In this review, we compare the alpha beta/gamma delta fate decision with other cell fate decisions that occur outside of the lymphoid system to attain a better picture of the quantitative signaling mechanism for cell fate specification.