Homotopy lifting, asymptotic homomorphisms, and traces

The following homotopy lifting theorem is proved: Let $\phi, \psi: B \to D/I$ be homotopic $\ast$-homomorphisms and suppose $\psi$ lifts to a (discrete) asymptotic homomorphism. Then $\phi$ lifts to a (discrete) asymptotic homomorphism. Moreover the whole homotopy lifts. We also prove a cp version of this theorem and a version where $\phi$ is replaced by an asymptotic homomorphism. We obtain a lifting characterization of several important properties of C*-algebras and use them together with the lifting theorem to get the following applications: 1) MF-property is homotopy invariant; 2) If either $A$ or $B$ is exact, $A$ is homotopy dominated by $B$ and all amenable traces on $B$ are quasidiagonal, then all amenable traces on $A$ are quasidiagonal; 3) If a C*-algebra $A$ is homotopy dominated by a nuclear C*-algebra $B$ and all (hyperlinear) traces on $B$ are MF, then all hyperlinear traces on $A$ are MF. 4) Some of the extension groups introduced by Manuilov and Thomsen coincide. 5) The C*-algebra $qA$ from Cuntz's picture of KK-theory is always quasidiagonal.