Question: Please respond as a fellow classmate and include a follow up question: I spent the most time going over cellular differentiation as that was the topic I would say I was the least familiar with and now I feel more knowledgeable about it. At the heart of this process are stem cells, unique cells with the ability to self-renew and differentiate into various cell types (Betts et al., 2013). The most versatile stem cells are totipotent stem cells, exemplified by the zygote immediately after fertilization. These cells possess the ultimate developmental plasticity, capable of forming an entire organism, including both embryonic tissues and extraembryonic structures like the placenta. As development progresses, the totipotent zygote divides to form a blastocyst. Cells within the inner cell mass of the blastocyst are pluripotent stem cells. While they can differentiate into any cell type of the three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm), they cannot form an entire organism on their own because they lack the ability to form extraembryonic tissues. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are a well-known example of pluripotent stem cells. Further specialization leads to multipotent stem cells. These cells are more restricted in their differentiation potential, typically giving rise to a limited range of cell types within a specific lineage or tissue. For instance, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow are multipotent, capable of producing all types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). Similarly, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate. Need Assignment Help?