To transform a single-celled zygote into an adult URLanism, development employs three basic processes --- asymmetric cell division, signaling and gene regulation . These three processes can be combined in a multitude of ways , thus generating the huge diversity of plant and animal forms we see today. The wealth of possible developmental schemes created by this combinatorial explosion is hard to survey and understand. Here, with a generative Boolean model , we demonstrate and systematically chart the extent of diversity that development can potentially produce. Our results indicate that, in contrast to common views, cell-type lineage graphs are unlikely to be tree-like.  Additionally, in line with the hypothesis that whole body regeneration is an epiphenomenon of development, a majority of URLanisms generated by our model can regenerate using pluripotent cells  .
Development combines three basic processes asymmetric --- cell division, signaling and gene regulation --- in a multitude of ways to create an overwhelming diversity of multicellular life-forms. Here , we attempt to chart this diversity using a generative model. We sample millions of biologically feasible developmental schemes, allowing us to comment on the statistical properties of cell-differentiation trajectories they produce. Our results indicate that, in contrast to common views, cell-type lineage graphs are unlikely to be tree-like. Instead, they are more likely to be directed acyclic graphs, with multiple lineages converging on the same terminal cell-type. Additionally, in line with the hypothesis that whole body regeneration is an epiphenomenon of development, a majority of the URLanism' generated by our model can regenerate using pluripotent cells . The generative framework is modular and flexible, and can be adapted to test additional hypotheses about general features of development .
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To transform a single-celled zygote into an adult URLanism, development employs
Development combines
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--- asymmetric
asymmetric ---
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. These three processes can be combined
---
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, thus generating the huge diversity of plant and animal forms we see today. The wealth of possible developmental schemes created by this combinatorial explosion is hard to survey and understand. Here, with a generative Boolean model
to create an overwhelming diversity of multicellular life-forms. Here
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we demonstrate and systematically chart the extent of diversity that development can potentially
we attempt to chart this diversity using a generative model. We sample millions of biologically feasible developmental schemes, allowing us to comment on the statistical properties of cell-differentiation trajectories they
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Instead, they are more likely to be directed acyclic graphs, with multiple lineages converging on the same terminal cell-type.
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URLanisms
the URLanism'
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. The generative framework is modular and flexible, and can be adapted to test additional hypotheses about general features of development