Cell potency is a
cell's ability to
differentiate into other cell types. The more cell types a cell can differentiate into, the greater its potency. Potency is also described as the gene activation potential within a cell which like a continuum begins with
totipotency to designate a cell with the most differentiation potential,
pluripotency,
multipotency,
oligopotency and finally
unipotency. Potency is taken from the Latin term "potens" which means "having power."