Final answer:
Totipotency is the ability of a cell to give rise to many types of specialized cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Totipotency is the ability of a cell to give rise to many types of specialized cells.
The first embryonic cells that arise from the division of the zygote are totipotent stem cells, which have the potential to differentiate into any cells needed for an organism to grow and develop. However, totipotency only lasts for a few days before the cells' fate is set as being precursors to a specific lineage of cells.