A Level Biology Practice Exam

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What does it mean for a stem cell to be multipotent?

It can differentiate into any cell type in the body
It only forms one specific cell type
It can differentiate into multiple cell types within a certain tissue type
It has lost the ability to differentiate at all

The correct answer is: It can differentiate into multiple cell types within a certain tissue type

A stem cell described as multipotent refers to its ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, but only within a specific lineage or tissue type. This characteristic distinguishes multipotent stem cells from pluripotent stem cells, which can develop into nearly any cell type in the body. Multipotent stem cells are typically involved in specific tissues, such as hematopoietic stem cells found in bone marrow, which can produce various types of blood cells, but not cells from other tissue types like neurons or muscle cells. The option indicating that a stem cell can differentiate into any cell type in the body describes pluripotent stem cells rather than multipotent ones. The choice stating it only forms one specific cell type reflects unipotent stem cells, which are limited to developing into just one type of cell. Lastly, the assertion that a stem cell has lost the ability to differentiate at all pertains to non-functional or differentiated cells, which is outside the scope of stem cell characteristics.