Final answer:
The true statement about induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is that they behave like embryonic stem cells, being capable of differentiating into any cell type but unable to support the full development of an organism. Therefore, the correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to which statement is true of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is a. they behave like embryonic stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells are developed from adult somatic cells, such as fibroblasts, that have been genetically reprogrammed to have the characteristics of embryonic stem cells. These reprogrammed cells become pluripotent, which means they have the potential to differentiate into cell types forming all three germ layers and can give rise to any cell type in the body, although they cannot support the full development of an organism on their own.
Since iPS cells are derived from adult cells, they do not present the same ethical issues as embryonic stem cells and are not seen as foreign by the patient's immune system. Because of their pluripotent nature, iPS cells are a promising tool in regenerative medicine and may, in the future, be used for applications such as disease modeling, drug testing, and potentially generating tissues for transplantation, however as of present, they cannot be used to produce whole organs for transplantation.