Totipotency

Totipotency is the ability of a single cell to divide and produce all the
differentiated cells in an organism, including extraembryonic tissues.
Totipotent cells formed during sexual and asexual reproduction include
spores and zygotes. Zygotes are the products of the fusion of two
gametes (fertilization). In some organisms, cells can dedifferentiate
and regain totipotency. For example, a plant cutting or callus can be
used to grow an entire plant.
Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and
creates a single totipotent cell (zygote). In the first hours after
fertilization, this cell divides into identical totipotent cells.
Approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of
cell division, these totipotent cells begin to specialize.
Totipotent cells have total potential. They specialize into pluripotent
cells that can give rise to most, but not all, of the tissues necessary for
fetal development. Pluripotent cells undergo further specialization into
multipotent cells that are committed to give rise to cells that have a
particular function. For example, multipotent blood stem cells give rise
to the red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood.
Importantly, totipotent cells must be able to differentiate not only into
any cell in the organism, but also into the extraembryonic tissue
associated with that organism. For example, human stem cells are
considered totipotent only if they can develop into any cell in the body,
or into placental cells that do not become part of the developing fetus.
This is an important aspect of the stem cell controversy.

Basis of totipotency

The molecular mechanisms controlling totipotency are not well

understood and are a subject for current research. In particular, a
February 2006 report in Science suggests that in the model organism
Caenorhabditis elegans, multiple mechanisms including RNA regulation
maintain totipotency at different stages of development.

Definition of totipotency :

The ability of a cell to proceed through all the stages of development and thus
produce a normal adult.

TOTIPOTENCY AND DETERMINATION

During sexual reproduction, a sperm cell and an egg cell unite to form a one-celled fertilized egg.
This cell is totipotent, meaning it has the potential to give rise to any and all human cells, such as
brain, liver, blood, or heart cells. The first few cell divisions in embryonic development produce more
totipotent cells. After four days of embryonic cell division, the cells begin to specialize.
During early embryogenesis, cells divide and gradually become committed to specific patterns of
gene activity through a process called cell determination. Specific genes are associated with the
determination event. Because the daughter cells of each "determined" cell have the same limited
potential as their parent cell, determination is considered heritable. Determination is permanent
under normal conditions but it is possible to reverse the process experimentally.

CELL DIFFERENTIATION
The final step leading to cell specialization is cell differentiation. Differentiation is a maturing
process during which a determined cell becomes a recognizable, specialized cell. External stimuli,
such as growth factors, trigger cells to differentiate. Once differentiated, these specialized cells are
usually terminal and nondividing, though some may be induced to divide following injury.

Differentiated cells produce and use specific proteins characteristic of their differentiation type. For
example, red blood cells produce hemoglobin to help transport oxygen, and muscle cells produce
myosin to help with muscle contraction. Differentiated cells often assume characteristic shapes,
such as columnar epithelial cells and star-shaped astrocytes.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENTIATION AND TOTIPOTENCY

Though differentiated cells have distinct shapes, activities, and functions, these differences are
apparently due to gene expression. There is no evidence that genes normally are lost during most
developmental processes.

At least some nuclei from differentiated plant and animal cells are totipotent and contain all the
genetic material present in the nucleus of a zygote. For example, a complete carrot plant can
develop from differentiated somatic cells.

Geneticists cut carrot root tissues into discs made up of phloem cells, which are specialized for
nutrient transport. When these differentiated cells were cultured in a liquid nutrient medium,
individual cells divided to form clumps of undifferentiated cells known as embryoid bodies. The
embryoid bodies, which closely resembled plant embryos in their early stages of development, then
progressed to form embryonic shoots and roots. Transferring the embryonic tissue to a solid
nutrient medium stimulated the tissues to form small plants, called plantlets, which then developed
into mature plants.

STEM CELLS
Stem cells, undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into more than one cell type, are of
great scientific interest today.

Stem cells can divide to produce differentiated descendents, yet also retain the ability to divide to
maintain the stem cell population. The most versatile stem cells—those that have the ability to give
rise to all tissues of the body—are known as pluripotent stem cells.

Other stem cells appear to be more specialized; for example, neural stem cells have been shown to
form blood cells when transplanted into bone marrow, and bone marrow stem cells can differentiate
into muscle cells. Also, some blood stem cells can develop into platelets, white blood cells, or red
blood cells. These more specialized stem cells are called multipotent.

SUMMARY
An organism contains many types of cells that are specialized both structurally and chemically to
carry out specific functions. These cells are the product of a process of gradual commitment, called
cell determination, which ultimately leads to the final step in cell specialization, called cell
differentiation. As cells undergo determination and differentiation, they change from being
totipotent to pluripotent to multipotent to, finally, specialized cells.

How does a single-celled zygote give rise to a complex organism with many
specialized parts?
Tutorial Menu
Introduction
Totipotency and determination
Cell differentiation
Relationship between differentiation and totipotency
Stem cells
Summary

Development, which is broadly defined as all the changes that

occur in the life of an individual, involves some of the most
fascinating and difficult problems in biology today. Of
particular interest is the process by which the descendants of
a single cell specialize and organize into a complex organism.

Who coined the term

"totipotency"?
"Totipotency" is a term of tissue culture which means the ability of plants to develop into
a complete organism from a single cell.

Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single totipotent
cell (zygote). In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides into identical totipotent
cells. Approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of cell division,
these totipotent cells begin to specialize.

Totipotent cells have total potential. They specialize into pluripotent cells that can give
rise to most, but not all, of the tissues necessary for fetal development. Pluripotent cells
undergo further specialization into multipotent cells that are committed to give rise to
cells that have a particular function. For example, multipotent blood stem cells give rise
to the red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood.
Importantly, totipotent cells must be able to differentiate not only into any cell in the
organism, but also into the extraembryonic tissue associated with that organism. For
example, human stem cells are considered totipotent only if they can develop into any
cell in the body, or into placental cells that do not become part of the developing fetus.
This is an important aspect of the stem cell controversy.