Type of Stem Cell

Type of Stem Cell

Totipotent: stem cells can differentiate into embryonic and extraembryonic cell types. Such cells can construct a complete, viable organism. These cells are produced from the fusion of an egg and sperm cell. Cells produced by the first few divisions of the fertilized egg are also totipotent.

Pluripotent: stem cells are the descendants of totipotent cells and can differentiate into nearly all cells, i.e. cells derived from any of the three germ layers.

Multipotent: stem cells can differentiate into a number of cells, but only those of a closely related family of cells.