The cell cycle and development: Lessons from C. elegans

The invariant developmental cell lineage of Caenorhabditis elegans (and other similar nematodes) provides one of the best examples of how cell division patterns can be precisely coordinated with cell fates. Although the field has made substantial progress towards elucidating the many factors that control the acquisition of individual cell or tissue-specific identities, the interplay between these determinants and core regulators of the cell cycle is just beginning to be understood. This review provides an overview of the known mechanisms that govern somatic cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation in C. elegans. In particular, I will focus on those studies that have uncovered novel genes or mechanisms, and which may enhance our understanding of corresponding processes in other organisms.