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Review

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 9, 355–366 (1 May 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrm2388

Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division: flies and worms pave the way

Pierre G|[ouml]|nczy

Asymmetric cell division is fundamental for generating diversity in multicellular organisms. The mechanisms that govern asymmetric cell division are increasingly well understood, owing notably to studies that were conducted in Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Lessons learned from these two model organisms also apply to cells that divide asymmetrically in other metazoans, such as self-renewing stem cells in mammals.