TOTIPOTENCY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does totipotency mean? 

• TOTIPOTENCY (noun)
  The noun TOTIPOTENCY has 1 sense:

1. the ability of a cell to give rise to unlike cells and so to develop a new organism or part

  Familiarity information: TOTIPOTENCY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TOTIPOTENCY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The ability of a cell to give rise to unlike cells and so to develop a new organism or part

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

totipotence; totipotency

Context example:

animal cells lose their totipotency at an early stage in embryonic development

Hypernyms ("totipotency" is a kind of...):

ability (the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment)

Derivation:

totipotent (having the ability to give rise to unlike cells)