Which of the following statements apply to stem cells?

Stem cells are unique cells with specific characteristics that allow them to play a crucial role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. One of their defining features is the ability to self-renew, which means they can divide and replicate themselves while maintaining their undifferentiated state. This property is essential for providing a continual source of stem cells for potential therapeutic applications.

Additionally, stem cells have the ability to differentiate into various cell types. This differentiation capacity enables them to contribute to the repair or regeneration of damaged tissues by transforming into specialized cells, such as muscle, nerve, or blood cells, depending on the signals they receive from their environment.

Stem cells can be classified into different categories based on their potency. Pluripotent stem cells can give rise to almost any cell type in the body, while multipotent stem cells are limited to differentiating into a narrower range of cell types. For instance, hematopoietic stem cells are multipotent as they can differentiate into various blood cell types but not into every cell type in the organism.

Since all these statements accurately describe the characteristics and capabilities of stem cells, the choice that encompasses all these aspects is indeed the most comprehensive answer.