totipotent
totipotent
Adjective
This term is used almost exclusively within the fields of embryology, genetics, and stem cell research. It describes the highest level of cellular potency, where a single cell possesses the complete genetic potential to create an entire living being, including the placenta and umbilical cord.
It is frequently contrasted with pluripotent cells, which can form any cell type of the body but cannot create a whole organism because they lack the ability to form extraembryonic tissues. Using this word in a non-biological context is rare and would be considered a highly technical metaphor for absolute versatility or omnipotence.
Meanings
Related Words
omnipotentimpotentunipotentstem cellpluripotentmultipotentzygoteblastomereembryofetusdifferentiationspecializationpotencyplasticityproliferationcleavagemorulablastocystinner cell masstrophoblastgameteovumspermfertilizationdevelopmentembryogenesisorganogenesislineageprogenitorprecursorcloneregenerationtissueorgancellnucleuschromosomegenomegeneexpressiontranscriptiontranslationproteinenzymefactorsignalinductionmorphogenapoptosismitosismeiosiscytoplasmmembraneorganellebiologycytologyhistologyembryologygeneticsbiotechnologyregenerative medicinetherapyculturemediumincubationgrowthdivisionsymmetrypolarityfatespecificationdeterminationstemness