somatic cell

noun

: one of the cells of the body that compose the tissues, organs, and parts of that individual other than the germ cells

Examples of somatic cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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And of those exactly 131 cells will die, leaving the animal with a complement of 959 somatic cells. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024 The other involves editing the human genome, either in normal body cells (known as somatic cells) or in the germline, the cells that pass genes down to offspring. Amy Gutmann, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018 In utero gene editing, or prenatal somatic cell genome editing, envisions treating a fetus diagnosed with a genetic disease before birth, thereby preventing that entire protocol and the onset of symptoms in the first place. Anna Yeo, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 The technique used to create Retro builds upon the pioneering work that led to the creation of Dolly the sheep nearly 30 years ago, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Sorcha Bradley, The Week Uk, theweek, 23 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for somatic cell 

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of somatic cell was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near somatic cell

Cite this Entry

“Somatic cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somatic%20cell. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

somatic cell

noun
: any cell of an animal or plant other than a germ cell

Medical Definition

somatic cell

noun
: any of the cells of the body that compose the tissues, organs, and parts of that individual other than the germ cells

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