Comparing Cell Division- and Cell Reproduction-based Cell Lineage Analysis for Early Embryogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Cell lineage analysis holds important stakes for understanding heredity and cell differentiation. Conventional cell lineages are reconstructed according to a cell division doctrine of one mother cell dividing into two daughter cells. An alternative cell lineage reconstruction method followed a cell reproduction discovery of multiple daughter cells reproduced from a same mother cell. To see which reconstruction method reflects reality of early embryogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans, a side-by-side comparison was made between two methods. Here I show cell division-based lineage distorted reality and failed in revealing any true genealogy. Cell reproduction - based lineage conformed to reality with exact same number of cells in every developmental stage under examination and showed clear genealogical relationship. A paradigm-shift from cell division-to cell reproduction-based cell lineage analysis is necessary for correct understanding of developmental biology and will lead to a revolution in cell biology and life science.