Final answer:
The primary germ layers develop into tissues during a process called organogenesis. Through gastrulation, three germ layers form and differentiate into various tissues and organs. Ectoderm develops into skin and nervous tissue, mesoderm into muscular and connective tissue, and endoderm into internal organs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which the primary germ layers develop into tissues is called organogenesis. During embryonic development, animals, including humans, undergo a critical stage known as gastrulation, which results in the formation of three primary germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. These layers are essential in shaping the future anatomy and physiology of the organism.
The ectoderm forms the nervous system and skin, the mesoderm gives rise to muscle cells and connective tissues, while the endoderm develops into the digestive tract and other internal organs. Organogenesis entails precise cell movements and differentiation, where embryonic stem cells express particular genes to become specific cell types. For example, cells in the ectoderm differentiate into epidermal skin cells.
Animals can be categorized into diploblasts, with two germ layers (ectoderm and endoderm), and triploblasts, with an additional middle layer, the mesoderm. This sophisticated embryonic development allows for the creation of the complex tissue and organ systems essential for animal life.