[Campbell Biology P.477] According to the text, what does 'totipotent' mean in the context o... | Practice Question
According to the text, what does 'totipotent' mean in the context of plant cells, and how was this demonstrated by Steward's experiments?
A: Totipotent means a cell can only differentiate into a few specific cell types. Steward showed this by growing plant cuttings.
B: Totipotent means a mature cell can dedifferentiate and give rise to all specialized cell types, demonstrated by differentiated carrot cells growing into whole plants.
C: Totipotent means a cell has lost its genetic potential. Steward's work proved cells lose genes during differentiation.
D: Totipotent refers to a cell's ability to resist pathogens, which Steward achieved through genetic engineering.
Explanation
The text states that in plants, mature cells can 'dedifferentiate' and then give rise to all the specialized cell types of the organism; any cell with this potential is said to be totipotent. Steward's experiments with differentiated carrot cells demonstrated this by growing them into whole plants.