During mouse embryogenesis the production of "primitive" erythrocytes (EryP) precedes the production of "definitive" erythrocytes (EryD) in parallel with the transition of the hematopoietic site from the yolk sac to the fetal liver. On a macrophage colony-stimulating factor-deficient stromal cell line OP9, mouse embryonic stem cells were shown to give rise to EryP and EryD sequentially with a time course similar to that seen in murine ontogeny. Studies of the different growth factor requirements and limiting dilution analysis of precursor frequencies indicate that most EryP and EryD probably developed from different precursors by way of distinct differentiation pathways.