02/04 Lecture 26 - Cell Differentiation

Totipotent cells

This type of cell can turn into any kind of cell during embryonic development

Trophectoderm

This is the outer layer of cells that surrounds the ICM during embryonic development

Pluripotent

This type of cell can turn into any kind of cell except trophectoderm during embryonic development

Terminal differentiation

This refers to the point where a cell becomes highly specialised and can only give rise to other cells of that type

Genomic equivalence

This refers to the phenomenon that differentiated cells contain all of the new DNA required to build an entirely new organism

Embryonic stem cells

This type of stem cell is harvested from the ICM of mammalian blastocyst embryos. Pluripotent, generally identical to the embryo donor

Induced pluripotent stem cells

This type of stem cell is made by reprogramming adult skin cells. Pluripotent, identical to the source, and can be made from anyone

Adult tissue stem cells

This type of stem cell can divide without limit and is undifferentiated, multipotent. It can divide to give rise to stem cells and most types of functional tissue cells

Umbilical cord stem cells

This type of stem cell is harvested from the umbilical cord, isolated from umbilical blood, and preserved. They are multipotent, immature blood cells, and can be used to treat blood disorders

Haemotapoietic stem cells

This type of stem cell is found in the bone marrow and can be used for transplants

Progenitor cell

This is a more differentiated version of a stem cell that can give rise to a specific set of cell types

Regenerative medicine

This is a a type of medicine that attempts to regenerate or repair lost/damaged tissue. Pluripotent stem cells can be made from skin or blood cells, which can be encouraged to differentiate into specific cell types that are then transplanted into patients.