Definition:
Having more than one potential outcome. This term is used in biotechnology to describe the state of stem cells prior to differentiation into cells of a specific tissue type.
This state of pluripotency is exploited in stem cell research as scientists look for ways to control the outcome of differentiation and apply those techniques to the treatment of various diseases, through regenerative medicine and therapeutic cloning.
Examples:
The pluripotent embryonic stem cells had not yet begun to differentiate at the time of harvesting.