Regarding stem cells, the term potency is best defined as?

The term potency in the context of stem cells refers to the ability of a stem cell to differentiate into various cell types. Specifically, it encompasses how versatile a stem cell is in giving rise to different specialized cell lineages, which can span across different types of tissues or even different germ layers. This characteristic is crucial because it determines the potential applications of stem cells in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, where the goal is to regenerate damaged tissues or organs by prompting stem cells to become specific types of cells needed for repair.

By understanding potency in this way, we can appreciate how stem cells can be broadly classified. For instance, totipotent stem cells can give rise to any cell type in the body, whereas pluripotent stem cells can develop into almost any cell type but not an entire organism. Thus, the ability to differentiate across tissue lineage boundaries or germ layers captures the essence of potency and highlights the versatility of stem cells in various biomedical applications.