Meaning & use
totipotent
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Describing a cell that has the ability to develop into any type of cell or tissue in an organism.
See it in a sentence
A fertilized egg is totipotent, meaning it can develop into every cell type needed to form a complete organism.
Researchers are studying how totipotent cells lose their flexibility as an embryo develops.
A note on using this word
Totipotent is distinct from 'pluripotent,' which describes cells that can become many, but not all, cell types.
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