FB2025_05 , released December 11, 2025
FB2025_05 , released December 11, 2025
CV Term Report
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General Information
Term phenotypic switching ID (Ontology) GO:0036166 (Gene Ontology)
Definition A reversible switch of a cell from one cell type or form to another, at a frequency above the expected frequency for somatic mutations. Phenotypic switching involves changes in cell morphology and altered gene expression patterns. For example, Candida albicans switches from white cells to opaque cells for sexual mating. Phenotypic switching also occurs in multicellular organisms; smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit phenotypic transitions to allow rapid adaption to fluctuating environmental cues.[ PubMed:12443899 PubMed:22406749 PubMed:8456504 ]
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  biological_process
   |__cellular process
       |__phenotypic switching
           |__establishment or maintenance of cell type involved in phenotypic switching
           |__regulation of cell morphogenesis involved in phenotypic switching
           |__regulation of phenotypic switching
           |   |__negative regulation of phenotypic switching(+)
           |   |__positive regulation of phenotypic switching
           |__reversible differentiation
               |__cell dedifferentiation involved in phenotypic switching(+)
               |__cell differentiation involved in phenotypic switching(+)
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  • "phenotypic dimorphism" RELATED
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