totipotent

[toh-tip-uh-tuh nt] /toʊˈtɪp ə tənt/
adjective, Biology
1.
(of a cell or part) having the potential for developing in various specialized ways in response to external or internal stimuli.
Origin
1895-1900; toti- + potent
Related forms
totipotency, noun
British Dictionary definitions for totipotency

totipotent

/təʊˈtɪpətənt/
adjective
1.
(of an animal cell) capable of differentiation and so forming a new individual, tissue, organ, etc
Derived Forms
totipotency, noun
Word Origin
C20: from Latin tōtus entire + potent1
Word Origin and History for totipotency

totipotent

adj.

1896, from Latin toti-, comb. form of totus "whole" (see total (adj.)) + potent. Perhaps immediately from German totipotent, which is attested by 1893. Related: Totipotency.

totipotency in Medicine

totipotency to·tip·o·ten·cy (tō-tĭp'ə-tən-sē, tō'tĭ-pōt'n-sē) or to·tip·o·tence (tō-tĭp'ə-təns, tō'tĭ-pōt'ns)
n.
The ability of a cell, such as an egg, to give rise to unlike cells and to develop into or generate a new organism or part.

to·tip'o·tent adj.
totipotency in Culture

totipotency definition


The ability of cells such as an embryonic stem cell to differentiate into any type of body cell. Plant cells are also totipotent, which helps to explain why a graft of a plant can generate a whole new individual out of just a small branch cutting.