Fig. 1

Patterning via the Notch signaling pathway. (a) Drosophila neurogenesis. The initial state with fluctuation is shown in the left panel (undifferentiated cells; U). Cells slightly colored green express DSL ligands to send Notch signaling and to inhibit the “sender” phenotype in their neighboring cells slightly colored brown. After iteration of cell‒cell communication, sender (green) and receiver (brown) phenotypes become apparent (right panel). The sender cells become epidermal cells (labeled with “E”), whereas the receiver cells become neural cells (labeled with “N”). (b) Mammalian biliary development in the liver. Vascular cells (labeled with “V”) transmit Notch signaling to undifferentiated cells (labeled with “U”) in their vicinity. After iteration of cell‒cell communication, the receiver cells become cholangiocytes (labeled with “C”), whereas the others become hepatocytes (labeled with “H”)