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Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
Published on: August 18, 2023
Mechanisms of cellular fitness and cell competition: Towards an integrated view
Jules Lavalou1, Karyna Kulakova1, Yogaspoorthi J Subramaniam1
1School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
Abstract:
Cell competition is a fundamental mechanism of tissue quality control that enables the selective elimination of less fit, mis-specified, diseased or aged cells. By shaping tissue composition, it plays a critical role in development, organismal health and a wide range of physiological and pathological contexts, including cancer. As its biological significance continues to grow, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying cell competition is essential for advancing our understanding of tissue biology, disease progression and future therapeutic strategies. In this review, we highlight recently identified, evolutionarily conserved pathways that govern cell competition through metabolites and systemic signals, proteostasis and mechanical exchange. By integrating findings across species and pathways, we reveal how these distinct mechanisms may intersect and coordinate to determine competitive outcomes, providing a conceptual framework to inform and guide future research.
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