Final answer:
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are derived from adult stem cells and have the same pluripotent capabilities as embryonic stem cells. They can differentiate into many types of cells and are an important advancement in regenerative medicine due to the lack of associated ethical issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) can be generated from adult stem cells and are pluripotent like ES cells.
These genetically reprogrammed stem cells can differentiate into cell types characteristic of all three germ layers, similar to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) which are extracted from embryos. Unlike hESCs, iPS cells are derived from adult tissues and are modified to obtain the pluripotent capabilities without the ethical and immunological issues associated with embryonic stem cells.
Pluripotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into any type of human tissue but not support the full development of an organism. They originate from totipotent stem cells, which can give rise to all cells needed for an organism to grow.
Using iPS cells for medical purposes avoids the legal, ethical, and immunological pitfalls of using embryonic stem cells, making them a significant advancement in the field of regenerative medicine.