Pluripotent

Definition
adjective
Capable of affecting many cells, organs or tissues.
(biology) Pertaining to the ability of a cell to differentiate into many cell types.
Supplement
Examples of pluripotent cells are stem cells in animals and meristematic cells in higher plants.
Pluripotent stem cells came from totipotent cells. They can differentiate into various fetal or adult cells.
Word origin: Latin pluri, many + potent, have power, to be able.

Related forms: pluripotency (noun)
Compare: unipotent, totipotent, multipotent.

See also: potent.
Related terms: