All of the cells are in the very early stages of embryonic development and have not begun to differentiate into specialized types of cells. What type of cells would these be?
The type of cells in the very early stages of embryonic development, before they have started to differentiate into specialized types of cells, are called embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they have the potential to develop into any type of cell in the body. They are found in the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of the embryo, which forms about 4-5 days after fertilization.
To determine the type of cells in the early stages of embryonic development, scientists typically use techniques such as immunostaining or molecular markers to identify the presence of specific proteins or genetic markers that are characteristic of pluripotent stem cells. These techniques help differentiate embryonic stem cells from other types of cells in the embryo or surrounding tissues.
It is important to note that the use of embryonic stem cells in research and medical applications is subject to ethical considerations and regulations in many countries.