Any cell can become anything already. They are a blank, at first. What they turn into is determined, as far as I can tell, by the mitochondria. They are like the platoon leaders of the cellular world.
If we could 'reprogram' the mitochondria at will, then the problem would perhaps be solved.
Directed Conversion of Alzheimer's Disease Patient Skin Fibroblasts into Functional Neurons
CNS means central nervous system.
What they turn into is determined, as far as I can tell, by the mitochondria. They are like the platoon leaders of the cellular world.
If we could 'reprogram' the mitochondria at will, then the problem would perhaps be solved.
Mitochondria are the principle source of energy for the cell. Mitochondria have their own genes which come from the oocyte, aka egg cell, courtesy of your mother in humans. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the same with all vertebrates, i.e. animals with spines.
If a cell had a 'platoon leader,' that would be the nucleus which contains the chromosomes that have genes made of DNA which code for proteins, both structural and enzymes.
During embryogenesis, after the fertilized egg undergoes repeated doubling, called mitosis, cells develop a position sense and start to develop into the three germ layers. Any corrections are always appreciated.