When a basal cell divides, both daughter cells remain in the basal layer of the epithelium, with one of the neighbouring cells being pushed out to make room. This fact opens the possibility that a cell with a heritable advantage over the normal cells may gradually produce a clone covering more and more of the basal layer. The advantage in question may consist in a faster rate of division than normal, or a more tenacious hold on the basement membrane; we shall limit consideration to the former situation.