totipotentteihin

Totipotentteihin is a Finnish-language term used to refer to totipotent cells. Totipotency is the capacity of a single cell to develop into a complete organism, including all embryonic and extraembryonic tissues such as the placenta. In practice, totipotent cells can generate both the embryo proper and the supporting structures needed for development.

In contrast, pluripotent cells can form all tissue types of the embryo proper but cannot give rise to placental or other extraembryonic tissues. Embryonic stem cells are commonly described as pluripotent, whereas totipotent cells have the broader developmental potential of a whole organism.

In mammals, totipotent cells include the zygote and the earliest cleavage-stage blastomeres. As development proceeds, cells become progressively restricted; by the 4- to 8-cell stage totipotency is typically waning, and by the morula or later stages most cells are no longer totipotent. In humans, totipotency is generally considered to be limited to the very early embryo.

In vitro, researchers explore totipotent-like states in cultured cells. Some conditions can yield cells with totipotent-like properties, sometimes referred to as 2C-like cells, which can contribute to embryonic and, in some experiments, extraembryonic lineages. The existence and utility of true totipotent cells in culture remain areas of active investigation and debate, with ethical considerations shaping research approaches.

In plants, totipotency is a well-established and widespread property. Many plant somatic cells can be reprogrammed to a totipotent state and regenerated into whole plants, a principle used in tissue culture, cloning, and genetic engineering. Totipotency thus plays a central role across biology, spanning animal development and plant biotechnology.