Which stem cells can only give rise to a limited range of cell types?

Multipotent stem cells are designated because they have the capability to differentiate into a limited range of cell types that are typically related to a specific tissue or organ. This characteristic allows them to play crucial roles in maintaining and repairing tissues. For example, hematopoietic stem cells are a type of multipotent stem cell that can give rise to various types of blood cells but not cells from other tissues or systems.

In contrast, totipotent stem cells can differentiate into any cell type, including placental cells, and pluripotent stem cells can develop into almost any cell type but not those necessary for forming an entire organism. Unipotent stem cells can produce only one type of cell, making them even more limited than multipotent stem cells. Understanding the distinctions among these types of stem cells is crucial for fields like regenerative medicine and developmental biology.