A researcher treats induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with retinoic acid, aiming to differentiate them. Which outcome follows if the signaling cascade activates lineage-specific transcription factors?

💡 Explanation

Lineage-specific transcription factors drive the expression of genes required for a particular cell type; because retinoic acid initiates signaling that activates these factors, the iPSCs commit to differentiating into that specific lineage; therefore, the outcome is cell fate commitment, rather than apoptosis or continued self-renewal.

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