Straight or split: signals to transcription

Since the discovery of substances in serum media that are able to drive cel ls into proliferation and/or differentiation, investigators have tried to u nderstand how such signalling molecules can influence cells to change their behaviour. The complex nature of the responses to signals, and the equally complex signalling pathway leading to those responses, have made life diff icult for the researcher. However, recent evidence obtained in genetic deve lopmental systems indicates that a multiplicity of downstream events can be accomplished by regulation of the activity of just one transcription facto r.