Multiple Choice
In developmental and stem cell biology, a stem/progenitor cell that gives rise to muscle (myogenic lineage) is most commonly referred to as a what?
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19. Stem Cells
Stem Cells
Multiple Choice
In the context of stem cell potency, which type of cell is most likely to remain totipotent?
A
A zygote (fertilized egg) or very early blastomere from the first few cleavage divisions
B
Cells of the inner cell mass of the blastocyst
C
Hematopoietic stem cells from adult bone marrow
D
Differentiated skeletal muscle cells (myocytes)
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the concept of stem cell potency, which refers to a stem cell's ability to differentiate into different cell types. Potency ranges from totipotent (can form all cell types including extraembryonic tissues) to pluripotent, multipotent, and finally unipotent (can form only one cell type).
Step 2: Identify the characteristics of a totipotent cell. Totipotent cells can give rise to all embryonic and extraembryonic tissues, meaning they have the broadest differentiation potential.
Step 3: Analyze the options given: the zygote and very early blastomeres are known to be totipotent because they can develop into a complete organism including the placenta; cells of the inner cell mass are pluripotent (can form most but not all tissues); hematopoietic stem cells are multipotent (limited to blood cell types); differentiated skeletal muscle cells are specialized and not stem cells.
Step 4: Conclude that the zygote or very early blastomeres are the only cells in the list that retain totipotency, as they have the capacity to form all cell types including extraembryonic tissues.
Step 5: Summarize that totipotency is unique to the earliest stages of development, specifically the fertilized egg and the first few cleavage divisions, before cells begin to specialize.
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