totipotent

Thân thiện

Embryonic stem cells are totipotent and can develop into any cell type.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Having the capacity to develop into any cell type of an organism: A totipotent cell possesses the highest developmental potential, meaning it can give rise to all the differentiated cell types of an organism, including both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues (like the placenta).

Usage

The term "totipotent" is a specialized scientific adjective used almost exclusively in the fields of developmental biology, embryology, and stem cell research. It describes the most fundamental and powerful state of a cell's developmental potential. * It is typically used to describe cells (e.g., totipotent cells, a totipotent state). * It is used to define a specific property or ability (e.g., the totipotent potential of the zygote).

Examples

• In the earliest stages, the fertilized egg is totipotent.
• Only the first few cells after fertilization retain their totipotent character.
• Scientists study totipotent cells to understand the very beginning of life.

Advanced Usage

• Totipotency (noun): The state or quality of being totipotent.
  • Example: The zygote exhibits totipotency, meaning it can form a complete organism.
• The concept is often contrasted with pluripotent (able to form all cell types of the body but not extra-embryonic tissues) and multipotent (able to form only a limited range of cell types within a specific lineage).

Variants and Related Words

• Totipotency (n): The property of being totipotent.
• Pluripotent (adj): A related but distinct term for cells that can develop into almost all cell types of the body, but not the supporting extra-embryonic tissues. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, not totipotent.

Synonyms

• Omnipotent (in a specific biological context, though this is less precise and rarely used)

Antonyms

• Differentiated
• Specialized
• Committed

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having the ability to give rise to unlike cells
   • embryonic stem cells are totipotent