Final answer:
Stem cells have the potential to become multiple cell types due to their differentiation ability, influenced by transcription factors and controlled by gene expression. Their potential ranges from totipotent to pluripotent and multipotent, with induced pluripotent stem cells representing a significant advancement in stem cell research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristic of Stem Cells
The characteristic of stem cells that gives them the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types is their potential to differentiate. Stem cells are categorized according to their potential, ranging from totipotent, which can differentiate into any cell type necessary for the development of an organism, to pluripotent, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that can generate cells characteristic of all three germ layers, and multipotent, like adult stem cells that are limited to specific cell types within a tissue or organ. The differentiation process is guided by transcription factors that control gene expression, allowing the stem cell to develop into specialized cells with unique functions.
The mechanisms of cell differentiation are still being explored, but in laboratory settings, scientists can influence stem cells to differentiate by altering physical and chemical growth conditions. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) present a breakthrough development where multipotent adult cells are reprogrammed to function like embryonic stem cells, demonstrating the remarkable versatility of stem cells in medical research and potential therapeutic applications.