Undifferentiated cells
Stem cells can generate specialized cells through cell differentiation, or remain undifferentiated in the organism.
We can distinguish between several types of stem cells according to their differentiation type:
- Totipotent stem cells that can differentiate into any type of cell in the body.
- Pluripotent stem cells that can differentiate into almost any cell type in the human body but are, however, unable to become the placental cells required for a fetus to develop inside a human uterus.
- Multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into a more limited range of specialized cell types.
- Unipotent stem cells that can differentiate into only one cell type.