Potency Types

Stem cell potency specifies the ameliorative potential of the cell type.

Totipotent Stem Cells are produced from the fusion of an egg and sperm cell. Cells produced by the first few divisions of the fertilized egg cell are also Totipotent. These cells can differentiate into any type of cell without exception.

Pluripotent Stem Cells are the descendants of Totipotent cells and can differentiate into any cell type except for Totipotent Stem Cells.

Multipotent Stem Cells can produce only cells of a closely related family of cells (e.g. hematopoeietic Stem Cells differentiate into red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets etc.).

Unipotent cells can produce only one cell type, but have the property of self-renewal which distinguishes them from non-Stem Cells.