Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Metabolic stress driven by mitochondrial dysfunction underlies a wide range of human diseases, yet the same defect can be detrimental to some cells while sparing their neighbors. We argue that this paradox reflects lineage mosaicism. Tissues are built from diverse clonal lineages whose differences remain hidden until mitochondrial dysfunction unmasks them. Rather than failing uniformly, cells diverge, engaging distinct stress programs shaped by developmental history and local context. By applying lineage-resolved approaches to mitochondrial dysfunction, we can move beyond average cellular behavior to understand when, where, and why individual cells adapt, persist, or fail.
Authors: Navdeep S. Chandel, Yogesh Goyal
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W7167495577