Final answer:
Undifferentiated precursor cells become distinguishable by their specialization into more specific cell types, progressing from pluripotent to multipotent stages as they differentiate and develop.
Step-by-step explanation:
All undifferentiated precursor cells can be distinguished by specialization. In the context of embryonic development, undifferentiated cells, such as pluripotent stem cells, are capable of differentiating into many, but not all, cell types within the human body. These cells originate from totipotent stem cells and can develop into the fundamental tissue layers of an embryo. As they undergo differentiation, they display varying levels of potential; from pluripotent to multipotent, where multipotent cells are more specialized and can differentiate into different cell types within a given lineage, such as those found in blood cells.
The differentiation process by which non-differentiated cells become specialized is complex, and several factors influence this, including changing physical and chemical conditions of growth in a laboratory setting. For instance, specific growth factors may initiate the development of stem cells from precursor cells to mature, differentiated cells. Hemopoietic growth factors, for example, are responsible for the maturation of blood cells from stem cells through various precursor stages.