What type of stem cells can develop into most, but not all, of the body's cell types?

Pluripotent stem cells possess the ability to differentiate into almost all cell types of the body, which includes cells from the three primary germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. This characteristic distinguishes them from totipotent stem cells, which can develop into an entire organism and all of its cell types, while pluripotent cells are limited to the diverse range of tissues found within an organism.

In contrast, multipotent stem cells have a more restricted differentiation potential, typically giving rise to a limited range of cell types related to a specific tissue or organ. Oligopotent stem cells can differentiate into only a few cell types. Therefore, the defining feature of pluripotent stem cells is their extensive potential to become many different cell types, making this distinction essential in developmental biology and regenerative medicine.