pluripotent

adjective plu·rip·o·tent \ plu̇-ˈri-pə-tənt \

Definition of pluripotent

: not fixed as to developmental potentialities; especially : capable of differentiating into one of many cell types

pluripotent stem cells

Recent Examples of pluripotent from the Web

Another approach would take advantage of recent breakthroughs in manipulating a kind of stem cell called induced pluripotent stem cells, which can be generated from other adult cells.

— daniel fernandez, Smithsonian, "Can the Northern White Rhino Be Brought Back From the Brink of Extinction?," 22 May 2018
These induced pluripotent stem cells, as they are called, are to be created from the patients themselves.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Rhino pregnancy stirs hope for a nearly extinct species," 17 May 2018
And at Harvard, stem cell biologist Paola Arlotta (also one of the essay's authors) grew 31 human brain organoids over periods as long as nine months and watched as pluripotent stem cells gave rise to human retinal cells alongside other brain cells.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "Brainstorming the ethics of neuroscience research in the age of organoids," 27 Apr. 2018
With just a small amount of skin cells called fibroblasts, scientists can grow these so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, then direct them to form human brain tissue.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Salk researchers build better mini-brains to study neurological diseases," 25 Apr. 2018
Theoretically, this can be done by turning frozen rhino cells into cells that can transform into any cell of the body, called pluripotent stem cells.

— alessandra potenza, The Verge, "Inside the high-tech plot to save the northern white rhino from extinction," 6 Apr. 2018
The usual method for making these cells, called induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells, is to reprogram them by inserting four genes carried by viruses.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Antibody-created stem cells may have superior properties," 11 Sep. 2017
Induced pluripotent stem cells do not carry the ethical objection many have to using human embryonic stem cells.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Antibody-created stem cells may have superior properties," 11 Sep. 2017
Reprogrammed cells Both studies used artificial embryonic stem cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS).

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Brain cell replacement for Parkinson's boosted by monkey study," 30 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pluripotent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pluripotent

Latin plur-, plus more + English potent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1916

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary

pluripotent

adjective plu·rip·o·tent \ plu̇-ˈrip-ət-ənt \

medical Definition of pluripotent

1 : not fixed as to developmental potentialities; especially : capable of differentiating into one of many cell types

pluripotent stem cells

2 : capable of having more than one effect

pluripotent activity

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pluripotent

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