Regulation of cellular plasticity: A historical development of scientific concept

In modern cell biology, the concept of plasticity is associated with a vast body of work, including studies on pluripotent status, mechanisms of regeneration and oncogenesis, biotechnological applications, mathematical models of cell differentiation, bioinformatic analysis of developmental and differentiation trajectories, and much more. There is extensive literature available on each of these areas, including reviews. A comprehensive examination of all the details and aspects of the development of the theory of cellular plasticity would require a separate extensive study. The purpose of this review is to briefly outline the main milestones in the evolution of the concept of cellular plasticity, from the classical deterministic paradigm to modern views based on dynamic systems, epigenetic landscapes, and attractors. Key discoveries and their significance for the development of the concept of cellular plasticity are discussed.

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