How do stem cells divide to produce progenitor cells?

In the context of biological development, stem cells typically produce progenitor cells through a process known as asymmetric stem cell division.1

During this division, a single stem cell divides to yield two distinct daughter cells:
* One daughter cell remains within the stem cell population, ensuring the maintenance of the stem cell pool.1
* The second daughter cell is targeted for differentiation, becoming a progenitor cell (also referred to as a transit-amplifying cell).1

Once formed, progenitor cells undergo further rounds of cell division. During this stage, they become increasingly specialized with each division, though they are restricted to a limited number of divisions before they eventually commit to a specific cell type and undergo terminal differentiation. This entire process is tightly regulated by gene expression, which is influenced by environmental signals such as growth factors, hormones, and interactions with neighboring cells.1