When the four blastomere pairs are separated from the 8-cell stage of the embryo, each pair forms the structure it would have were it not separated from the embryo.  

Autonomous Specification in Tunicates

Michigan State University

Autonomous specification is one mode of cell commitment.  Blastomeres are apportioned different amounts of cytoplasmic determinants based off of the non-homogenous distribution of these specifying factors in the egg that gave rise to the embryo.  Early blastomeres are already specified and determined to their fate, meaning that these cells "know" what to become without interacting with other cells.  

Autonomous Specification

Barresi, M. J., &amp; Gilbert, S. F. (2020). Developmental Biology (12th ed.). New York: Sinauer.

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