This model pictures that melanoma progression and metastasis are driven by a continuous switching between two cellular phenotypes: a differentiated, “proliferative” phenotype characterized by high expression of neural crest and melanocyte markers, such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and a dedifferentiated, “invasive” phenotype characterized by low expression of melanocyte markers and high expression of mesenchymal cell markers (Hoek et al, 2006, 2008; Hoek & Goding, 2010; Widmer et al, 2012). The gene discussed is MITF; the disease is melanoma.