TOTIPOTENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does totipotent mean? 

• TOTIPOTENT (adjective)
  The adjective TOTIPOTENT has 1 sense:

1. having the ability to give rise to unlike cells

  Familiarity information: TOTIPOTENT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TOTIPOTENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having the ability to give rise to unlike cells

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

embryonic stem cells are totipotent

Domain category:

cell ((biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals)

Pertainym:

totipotency (the ability of a cell to give rise to unlike cells and so to develop a new organism or part)

Derivation:

totipotence; totipotency (the ability of a cell to give rise to unlike cells and so to develop a new organism or part)

 Context examples 

See also pluripotent and totipotent.

(Multipotent, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Totipotent stem cells, such as the product of fertilization of an ovum and its progeny, are stem cells that have total potency to form an entire mature organism, e.g., a human being, although only if placed in a woman's uterus.

(Murine Totipotent Stem Cell, NCI Thesaurus)