Which of the following is a substantial difference between embryonic stem cells and the stem cells found in adult tissues? Question 4 options: a) In laboratory culture, only adult stem cells are immortal. b) In nature, only embryonic stem cells give rise to all the different types of cells in the organism. c) Only adult stem cells can be made to differentiate in the laboratory. d) Only embryonic stem cells are in every tissue of the adult body.

b) In nature, only embryonic stem cells give rise to all the different types of cells in the organism.

Explanation:

Embryonic stem cells are special type of cells formed in the embryonic stage of the life cycle of a living organism. Embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiating into every other type of cells that exists in an organism. Besides the embryonic stem cells, other types of stem cells exist, one of which is the adult stem cell.

The adult stem cell is a type of stem cell found in the tissues of adult organisms as opposed to those found in the embryo. One substantial difference between the embryonic and adult stem cells is that the embryonic stem cells are the only type of stem cells capable of giving rise to all the different types of cells in an organism i. e. embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiation while adult stem cells are not.