Pancreas: how to get there from the gut?

All pancreatic cell types derive from the same endodermal dorsal and ventra l anlage that grow together to form the definitive pancreas. A number of di stinct transcription factors operating at various levels of pancreatic deve lopment, and in different cell-types, have been identified and their functi ons have, in many cases, been genetically analyzed. This knowledge has give n us useful information both on pancreas development and on various pancrea tic disorders, such as diabetes, However, the extrinsic factors that ultima tely control the process leading from the primitive gut endoderm to a fully developed, functional pancreas needs now to be identified. With such infor mation, the prospect of using pancreatic stem and/or progenitor cells as a therapeutic approach towards curing diabetic disorders will be within reach .