somatic cell

American  

noun

Cell Biology.

1. one of the cells that take part in the formation of the body, becoming differentiated into the various tissues, organs, etc.

2. any cell other than a germ cell.

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somatic cell British  

noun

1. any of the cells of a plant or animal except the reproductive cells Compare germ cell

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Etymology

Origin of somatic cell

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Gray’s appearance was designed to underscore the rapid clinical advances in somatic cell gene editing—making noninheritable changes to a person’s DNA—and redirect attention away from the controversial prospect of heritable changes.

From Science Magazine

The idea was to use a technology that didn’t exist when the zoo had stored the samples: somatic cell nuclear transfer.

From Science Magazine

That finding suggested the plants were somehow eliminating harmful mutations in their somatic cells and accumulating beneficial ones for their reproductive cells.

From Science Magazine

Moreover, there is no objection to using gene editing in somatic cells to treat an individual patient in a way that does not pass along those changes.

From Washington Post

Most of the scientific community strongly supports editing somatic cells to treat diseases including sickle cell anemia, Huntington’s disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

From Scientific American