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

Prenatal genome editing is, in theory, somatic cell editing.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2024

Unlike somatic cell division, which duplicates and divides the genome identically, meiosis creates genetically diverse reproductive cells through a mechanism known as crossover.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2024

Reproductive cloning of animals uses a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer.

From Reuters • May 25, 2023

If many mutations accumulate in a somatic cell, they may lead to problems such as the uncontrolled cell division observed in cancer.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Figure 207 is the equatorial plate from a female somatic cell of a young egg-follicle.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part I by Stevens, Nettie Maria