Step 1: Vasopressin acts on two receptor families: V1 on vascular smooth muscle giving vasoconstriction, and V2 on renal collecting ducts giving water retention. The aim with desmopressin is to keep the renal effect while dropping the vascular one.
Step 2: Desmopressin is engineered to favour V2 receptors and largely spares V1, so it conserves water without squeezing blood vessels. This means almost no rise in blood pressure or gut and coronary spasm, a clear advantage over the parent hormone.
Step 3: On top of this, it is about twelvefold more potent as an antidiuretic and lasts longer, so smaller, less frequent doses suffice.
Step 4: Statement (a) greater potency and statement (c) minimal vasoconstriction both hold true, while (b) is false since the selectivity is for V2, not V1. The combined choice a and c is correct.
\[\boxed{\text{a and c}}\]