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RESEARCH ARTICLE

From quiescence to hypertrophy: existing and emerging genetic targets to fine-tune myogenesis in cultivated muscle

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · 3 October 2026 · DOI 10.3389/fbioe.2026.1949264

A review maps genetic targets that could improve muscle cell lines for cultivated meat, where production depends on balancing cell growth, maturation and protein output. It examines TGF-β, MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt signalling, alongside prior engineering for immortality, growth rate and metabolic efficiency. The authors argue that editing these pathways may control proliferation, differentiation and hypertrophy while reducing reliance on costly media additives. However, agricultural cell lines remain understudied, making quality controls and regulatory oversight central to any scale-up.

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