Practice question

Potency terminology precisely reflects developmental latitude and epigenetic restriction history. Totipotent cells like zygote generate embryonic plus extraembryonic tissues covering entire conceptus including placenta and yolk sac. Pluripotent cells like embryonic stem cells produce all embryonic germ layers but fail to contribute to placenta efficiently. Multipotent cells such as mesenchymal or hematopoietic stem cells generate several related differentiated types within a single tissue lineage. Unipotent cells such as spermatogonial stem cells, basal keratinocytes, or satellite muscle progenitors produce single differentiated progeny while still self-renewing, representing narrowest potential compatible with stem cell definition functionally.