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Stem Cell Potency

Totipotent stem cells can differentiate into any type of cells. In humans, cells from the first three divisions can differentiate into any of the 216 cell types.After the third division the cells lose their ability to differentiate into extra-embryonic tissue such as the amnion, placenta and umbilicus.Pluripotent stem cells can form all tissue types but not whole organisms. They are present in early embryo and are the origin of tissues in the organism.Multipotent stem cells are only able to differentiate into a range of cells within certain tissue.Haematopoetic stem cells in the bone marrow can differentiate into all the various types of blood cells.

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