Potency

• Pluripotent: Stem cells derived from totipotent stem cells and form an inner cell mass in the embryo; they can differentiate into nearly every cell type
• Unipotent: Adult stem cell repair kit, they can only produce one cell type, their own, they have the property of self-renewal (e.g. mitosis), which distinguishes them from non-stem cells
• They are unspecialised/undifferentiated cells that can divide by mitosis over and over again for long periods, they have the potential (potency) to differentiate into all sorts of cells with special functions (plant equivalent is meristematic cells)
• Totipotent (omnipotent): Can develop into any cell found in the human body, useful during embryonic development, when we start as a single cell, these can form a completely viable organism
• Developing embryos contain entirely totipotent cells for the first few weeks of existence; eventually, they begin to specialise, each diverting into its lineage (one totipotent cell will be responsible for the digestive system, etc)
• Induced pluripotent stem cells: Essentially de-aged adult stem cells, no dead embryos and almost as useful, all willing volunteers; grow organs or organ sections, possible paralysis cures; and grow bones (help with brittle bone disease)