Editing Embryonic stem cell (section)

=== Pluripotent ===

Embryonic stem cells of the inner cell mass are [[Cell potency#Pluripotency|pluripotent]], meaning they are able to [[Cellular differentiation|differentiate]] to generate primitive ectoderm, which ultimately differentiates during [[gastrulation]] into all derivatives of the three primary [[germ layer]]s: [[ectoderm]], [[endoderm]], and [[mesoderm]]. These germ layers generate each of the more than 220 [[List of distinct cell types in the adult human body|cell types]] in the adult human body. When provided with the appropriate signals, ESCs initially form [[precursor cells]] that in subsequently differentiate into the desired cell types. Pluripotency distinguishes embryonic stem cells from [[adult stem cell]]s, which are [[multipotent]] and can only produce a limited number of cell types.