Definition

1. Noun:
   • Any cell of a multicellular organism other than a germ cell or reproductive cell: A somatic cell is any biological cell that forms the body of an organism, as opposed to a germ cell which is involved in sexual reproduction.
   • A cell that does not participate in the production of gametes: Somatic cells are diploid, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes, and their genetic material is not passed on to offspring.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Skin, muscle, and nerve cells are all examples of somatic cells.
  • Mutations in a somatic cell affect only the individual and are not inherited by their children.
  • The vast majority of cells in the human body are somatic cells.

Advanced Usage

• "Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)": a laboratory technique for creating a viable embryo from a body cell and an egg cell.
  • Somatic cell nuclear transfer was used in the cloning of Dolly the sheep.

Variants and Related Words

• Soma (n): The entire body of an organism, excluding the germ cells.
  • The soma is composed of somatic cells.
• Somatic (adj): Relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind or germ cells.
  • Somatic mutations can lead to cancer.

Synonyms

• Body cell: A non-reproductive cell.
• Vegetative cell: (In some contexts, especially botany) a cell that is not involved in reproduction.

Antonyms

• Germ cell: A cell that is destined to become a gamete (sperm or egg) and can pass genetic information to offspring.
• Gamete: A mature haploid reproductive cell (sperm or egg).

Noun

1. any of the cells of a plant or animal except the reproductive cells; a cell that does not participate in the production of gametes;
   • somatic cells are produced from preexisting cells