Undifferentiated cell.
Stem cells can generate specialized cells by cell differentiation or remain undifferentiated in the body.
Several types of stem cells can be distinguished according to their type of differentiation:
- Totipotent stem cells that can differentiate into any type of cell in the body;
- Pluripotent stem cells, which can differentiate into almost any cell in the human body but are unable to become placental cells necessary for the development of the foetus in the human uterus;
- Multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into several specialized but more restricted cell types;
- Unipotent stem cells that can only differentiate into a single cell type.