Transdifferentiation and metaplasia - switching cell types

States of developmental commitment are encoded as combinations of transcription factors and changes in their expression can bring about transdifferentiation or metaplasia. For example, ectopic expressions of Vestigial can convert Drosophila leg to wing; of C/EBP beta can convert pancreatic exocrine cells to hepatocytes; and expression of C/EBP alpha and PPAR gamma can convert myoblasts to adipocytes.