stem cells

Question

Embryonic stem cells derived from the inner cell mass are described as:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **Source**: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are obtained from the **inner cell mass** of a blastocyst-stage embryo.
2. **Potency Defined**:
   - **Totipotent**: Can form every cell type in the body PLUS extra-embryonic tissues like the placenta (e.g., zygote).
   - **Pluripotent**: Can form **any cell type of the three germ layers** (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) that make up the body, but cannot form the placenta independently.
   - **Multipotent**: Can differentiate into several closely related cell types (e.g., hematopoietic stem cells).
3. **Result**: ESCs are considered **pluripotent**, making them highly valuable for regenerative medicine.

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stem cells

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