What type of stem cells can differentiate into several closely related cell types?

Multipotent stem cells are designed to differentiate into a limited range of cell types that are closely related. They are typically found in specific tissues and are essential for maintaining and repairing those tissues throughout an organism's life. For instance, hematopoietic stem cells found in bone marrow are multipotent and can give rise to various types of blood cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

In contrast, oligopotent stem cells can differentiate into a few cell types, while unipotent stem cells can only produce one specific type of cell, making their differentiation potential more limited. Pluripotent stem cells, while capable of becoming any cell type in the body, do not restrict themselves to closely related cell types in the same way multipotent stem cells do. Therefore, the most accurate answer for the type of stem cells that can differentiate into several closely related cell types is indeed multipotent stem cells. This distinction highlights the hierarchical organization of stem cell potency and their roles in development and tissue maintenance.