#*As embryogenesis progresses, cells become specialised in structure and function. Regulation of gene expression allows different proteins to be expressed in some cells, allowing tissue differentiation even though all cells contain the same DNA. At the blastomere stage (16 cells) cells are '''totipotent''', meaning they have the capacity to form every adult cell type. As the embryo progresses and enters [[Developmental Biology - Gastrulation - Anatomy & Physiology|gastrulation]] cells become '''pluripotent''', meaning they can form several but not all cell types. Gastrulation is the process of forming the three germ layers; ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Eventually, most cells terminally differentiate and can no longer form any other cell type. | #*As embryogenesis progresses, cells become specialised in structure and function. Regulation of gene expression allows different proteins to be expressed in some cells, allowing tissue differentiation even though all cells contain the same DNA. At the blastomere stage (16 cells) cells are '''totipotent''', meaning they have the capacity to form every adult cell type. As the embryo progresses and enters [[Developmental Biology - Gastrulation - Anatomy & Physiology|gastrulation]] cells become '''pluripotent''', meaning they can form several but not all cell types. Gastrulation is the process of forming the three germ layers; ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Eventually, most cells terminally differentiate and can no longer form any other cell type. |