Independent evidence for a commitment model of clonal attenuation.

We previously reported a model of clonal attenuation which assumes three classes of cells: small highly replicative cells; intermediate size cells of limited replicative potential and large non-diving cells. Computer simulations carried out with the model lead to predictions of how the relative proportion of each cell type varies throughout the in vitro replicative life span of a mass population. These predictions appear to be broadly confirmed by independent data recently reported by another laboratory.