Totipotent cells: Stem cells are characterized according to their degree of potency, which refers to their varying ability to differentiate into different cell types. Totipotent cells are the most potent of all stem cells, and defining them is important for research and the field of regenerative medicine.A totipotent cell is a single cell that can give rise to a new organism, given appropriate maternal support (most stringent definition)A totipotent cell is one that can give rise to all extraembryonic tissues, plus all tissues of the body and the germline (less stringent definition)
Pluripotent cells: Pluripotent stem cells are cells that have the capacity to self-renew by dividing and to develop into the three primary germ cell layers of the early embryo and therefore into all cells of the adult body, but not extra-embryonic tissues such as the placenta. Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are pluripotent stem cells.
