FIGURE 1 An embryonic stem (ES) cell has the potential to develop into various cell types (solid black arrows). Activation of specific transcription factors can convert one differentiated cell type to another (red arrows) or even to an undifferentiated state (dashed arrow). Mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm are the three embryonic layers from which all cells and tissues develop; astroglia are non-neuronal cells of nerve tissue.