noun
pluripotent cell
Technical term in biology for a cell that can differentiate into many, but not all, cell types. Often used in stem cell research contexts.
万能細胞は再生医療の研究で重要な役割を果たしている。
Pluripotent cells play an important role in regenerative medicine research.
多能性幹細胞 is a more formal synonym for pluripotent stem cell, while 万能細胞 is a slightly more accessible term often used in media.
ES cells (embryonic stem cells) are a type of pluripotent cell, but 万能細胞 is a broader category that also includes iPS cells.
iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells) are a specific kind of 万能細胞 created by reprogramming adult cells.
Compound of 万能 (ばんのう, 'all-purpose, omnipotent') and 細胞 (さいぼう, 'cell'). The term is a direct translation of the English 'pluripotent cell'.