What do you think would have the greatest effect on the body-a harmful mutation in a pluripotent embryonic stem cell, or a harmful mutation in an adult multipotent stem cell? Explain your answer.

Pluripotency is the capability of a stem cell to differentiate into all kinds of cells in the body except the embryonic and placental cells.

Multipotency is the capability of a stem cell to renew itself and to differentiate into cell types present in a specific tissue or organ.

A mutation in the pluripotent embryonic cell will be transferred to the whole body. Hence, it will be more harmful than a mutation in an adult multipotent stem cell. A mutation in a multipotent stem cell will cause harmful effects in a particular type of specialized tissue or organ.