Overexpression of MyoD to derive human embryonic stem cells (hESC)‐myocytes. A, Phase contrast micrographs of hESC‐mesodermal progenitors with tamoxifen‐driven induction of human MyoD‐ER‐GFP (hMyoD1) for 1, 7, 14 and 21 d. Cells underwent elongation but no multinucleate myotubes were observed. Scale bars 20 μm. B, Localization of hMyoD1 in hESC‐mesodermal progenitors with tamoxifen‐driven induction of human MyoD‐ER‐GFP (hMyoD1) for 1, 7, 14 and 21 d. Cells underwent elongation but no multinucleate myotubes were observed. Scale bars 20 μm. C, Quantitative RT‐PCR for mRNAs of myogenic markers in hESC‐mesodermal progenitors overexpressing hMyoD1, relative to control cells. D, Quantitative RT‐PCR for mRNAs of myogenic markers in hMYOD1‐hESC‐myocytes, relative to primary myotubes. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, hMYOD1‐hESC‐myocytes vs controls