Undifferential cells found in the developing embryo that can be induced to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types or tissues; also found in adults, although not as totipotent.

• A. Prokaryotes
• B. Eukaryotes
• C. Stem cells
• D. Cytoplasm

Answer: (C)

Undifferentiated cells that can give rise to many different cell types are stem cells. In the developing embryo, some stem cells are totipotent, meaning they can form all cell types of the body plus extraembryonic tissues, enabling the entire organism to develop. As development progresses, these cells become more specialized, and adult stem cells remain but with more limited potential, typically able to differentiate into a subset of related cell types to maintain or repair tissues. This combination of an undifferentiated state and broad—and then restricted—differentiation capacity is what makes stem cells the correct answer. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes refer to whole organisms, not undifferentiated cell types, and cytoplasm is a cell’s internal fluid, not a cell type with developmental potential.