1. A method for identifying cells differentiating into trophectoderm, neurectoderm, or progeny cells thereof, comprising: (a) obtaining an image of one or more cells; (b) representing the image as a multiplicity of pixels; (c) using a processor to extract one or more image features from said multiplicity of pixels; and (d) comparing the one or more image features with image features derived from one or more reference cells, wherein the processor applies one or more statistical comparison methods to compare the image features; whereby cells differentiating into trophectoderm, neurectoderm, or progeny cells thereof are identified.