Thus, the observed differences between GATA2 transcriptional activities in HE and non-HE supports our hypothesis that GATA2 is most critical for enforcing hematopoietic program during EHT from HE, while mechanisms upstream of GATA2 are essential for specification of HE and non-HE from mesoderm, and for pre-establishing GATA2-responsive hematopoietic program in HE. Here, GATA2 is linked to hereditary elliptocytosis.