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What is the difference between totipotency and pluripotency?

Published in Stem Cell Differentiation 1 min read

Totipotency and pluripotency are terms used to describe the potential of a stem cell to differentiate into different cell types. The key difference lies in the range of cell types they can produce.

Feature Totipotency Pluripotency
Definition Ability to differentiate into any cell type, including embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues (like the placenta). Ability to differentiate into all cell types of the adult organism.
Potential Highest differentiation potential High, but slightly lower than totipotency
Examples Zygote (fertilized egg), early blastomeres (cells produced by the first few divisions of the zygote) Embryonic stem cells (ESCs)
Embryonic & Adult Lineages Able to give rise to all embryonic and adult lineages. Able to give rise to all cell types in an adult (but not extra-embryonic tissues)

As noted in the reference, stem cells are categorized based on their differentiation potential. Totipotent cells can give rise to all embryonic and adult lineages, whereas pluripotent cells can give rise to all cell types in an adult. Therefore, a totipotent cell has the potential to create a whole organism, whereas a pluripotent cell can generate all cell types within an existing organism.