Totipotent

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Being capable of differentiating into any cell type within an organism's body
2. Characterizing a cell that can develop into various specialized forms needed for different tissues
3. Having the ability to transform into any specialized cell type found in a whole organism

Etymology: The word is a modern scientific coinage built from two Latin-derived parts. "Totus" means "whole" or "entire," and "potent" comes from Latin "potens," meaning "powerful" or "able." Put together, the term describes a cell that still has the capacity to become any kind of specialized cell in the body, the way a fertilized egg can give rise to every tissue of an organism. The word was formed in the early twentieth century, when biologists needed a precise label for this capacity. Its meaning sits neatly on top of its parts: the cell is not just able to become something, but able to become the whole range of possibilities, which is why it is distinguished from related terms that describe a narrower set of options.

Synonyms: undifferentiated, pluripotent