Which cells have the potential to differentiate into any cell type of the three germ layers?
- Multipotent stem cells
- Pluripotent stem cells
- Totipotent stem cells
- Unipotent stem cells
Answer: Pluripotent stem cells
Pluripotent cells (embryonic stem cells, iPSCs) can form all embryonic lineages (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) but not extra-embryonic tissues. Totipotent (zygote) can form entire organism. [[NCERT Biology Class 12]]