Practice question

Asymmetric cell division requires active segregation of cell fate determinants rather than simple equal cytoplasmic splitting. Conserved polarity proteins such as Numb, Prospero, Brat, and specific mRNAs are localized to one pole by Par3-Par6-aPKC complex and actin-myosin contractility networks. Mitotic spindle alignment then generates daughters with distinct transcription factor dosage, Notch activity, and epigenetic marks leading to divergent fates. Equal partitioning would produce identical self-renewing or differentiating daughters, while complement activation and epigenetic suppression are unrelated immune or regulatory phenomena, not drivers of asymmetry in stem cells.