Cell differentiation and specialisation

• Stem cells: unspecialised cells that have properties of self-renewal and potency
• Cell differentiation: process by which stem cells become specialised depending on their gene expression
• Cell potency: ability for a cell to differenciate into different cell types
• Classifications of stem cells:

  1. totipotent - all cell types
  2. pluripotent - range of cell types
  3. unipotent - one cell type
• multicellular organism structural organisation hierarchy:

  1. cells
  2. tissues
  3. organs
  4. organ systems
  5. organisms