Fate Map

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A fate map is a representation of the developmental history of each cell in the body of an adult organism. Thus, a fate map traces the products of each mitosis from the single-celled zygote to the multi-celled adult. The process of fate mapping was developed by Walter Vogt.

The fate map of vulval development in C. elegans has been completely characterized at a molecular level. In an adult C. elegans, the vulva is the egg-laying organ that consists of only 22 cells. The differentiation and division of these Px.p cells is dictated by the anchor cell through a morphogen gradient of LIN-3. Mapping each cell's fate was accomplished by studying mutants and through tissue grafts.