Cell, totipotent

Cell, totipotent
A cell with the capacity to form an entire organism. Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single totipotent cell. In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides into identical totipotent cells. Approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of cell division, these totipotent cells begin to specialize. Totipotent is as opposed to pluripotent and multipotent. Totipotent cells have total potential. They specialize into pluripotent cells that can give rise to most, but not all, of the tissues necessary for fetal development. Pluripotent cells undergo further specialization into multipotent cells that are committed to give rise to cells that have a particular function. For example, multipotent blood stem cells give rise to the red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • totipotent — [tō tip′ə tənt] adj. [ TOTI + POTENT] capable of developing into a complete embryo or organ: said of a cleavage cell totipotency [tō tip′ətən sē] n …   English World dictionary

  • Cell potency — Pluripotent, embryonic stem cells originate as inner mass cells within a blastocyst. The stem cells can become any tissue in the body, excluding a placenta. Only the morula s cells are totipotent, able to become all tissues and a placenta. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Totipotent — Having unlimited capability. A totipotent cell has the capacity to form an entire organism. Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single totipotent cell. In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides… …   Medical dictionary

  • totipotent — Capable of giving rise to all types of differentiated cell found in that organism. A single totipotent cell could, by division, reproduce the whole organism …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • Cell — The basic structural and functional unit in people and all living things. Each cell is a small container of chemicals and water wrapped in a membrane. Each cell in the human body there are 100 trillion cells in each of us contains the entire… …   Medical dictionary

  • totipotent — adjective having the ability to give rise to unlike cells embryonic stem cells are totipotent • Pertains to noun: ↑totipotency • Derivationally related forms: ↑totipotency, ↑totipotence • Topics: ↑cell …   Useful english dictionary

  • totipotent cell — totipotential cell an embryonic cell that is capable of developing into any variety of body cells …   Medical dictionary

  • totipotent — [təʊ tɪpət(ə)nt] adjective Biology (of an immature or stem cell) capable of giving rise to any cell type or (of a blastomere) a complete embryo. Derivatives totipotency noun Origin early 20th cent.: from L. totus whole + potent1 …   English new terms dictionary

  • totipotent — /toʊˈtɪpətənt/ (say toh tipuhtuhnt) adjective (of a stem cell) undifferentiated and able to become any type of adult cell. {Latin toti (representing totus whole) + potent} …  

  • totipotent — totipotency, n. /toh tip euh teuhnt/, adj. Biol. (of a cell or part) having the potential for developing in various specialized ways in response to external or internal stimuli. [1895 1900; TOTI + POTENT] * * * …   Universalium

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