Precise specification of cell fate or identity within stem cell lineages is critical for ensuring correct stem cell lineage progression and tissue homeostasis. Failure to specify cell fate or identity in a timely and robust manner can result in developmental abnormalities and diseases such as cancer. However, the molecular basis of timely cell fate/identity specification is only beginning to be understood. In this review, we discuss key regulatory strategies employed in cell fate specification and highlight recent results revealing how timely and robust cell fate/identity commitment is achieved through transcriptional control.
Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster; amplifier; cell fate commitment; poising; stem cell lineages; timeliness.