to·tip·o·ten·cy  (tō-tĭp'ə-tən-sē, tō'tĭ-pōt'n-sē)  n. pl. to·tip·o·ten·cies also to·tip·o·ten·ces The ability of a cell, such as an egg, to give rise to unlike cells and thus to develop into or generate a new organism or part. [Latin tōtus, whole; see total + potency.] to·tip'o·tent adj. |
| totipotence | |
noun | |
| the ability of a cell to give rise to unlike cells and so to develop a new organism or part; "animal cells lose their totipotency at an early stage in embryonic development" [syn: totipotency] |