What term refers to unspecialized cells that can reproduce themselves and give rise to specialized cells?

The term that describes unspecialized cells capable of self-replication and the generation of specialized cells is stem cells. Stem cells are unique because they have the potential to develop into various types of cells, depending on the signals they receive from their environment. This differentiating ability is fundamental in developmental biology, tissue regeneration, and healing.

Unlike progenitor cells, which may have a more limited capacity to differentiate and are already on the path to becoming specialized cells, stem cells can maintain themselves indefinitely through division while also generating progenitor cells. Immature cells typically refer to cells that are still in development and have not yet fully matured, lacking the broad differentiation potential that stem cells possess. Somatic cells are fully differentiated cells that make up the tissues and organs of the body, and they do not have the ability to reproduce indefinitely or give rise to different cell types. Therefore, the defining characteristics of stem cells highlight their critical role in growth, repair, and regeneration in biological systems.