somatoplasm

A scientist examines a slide of somatoplasm under a microscope.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The protoplasm of a somatic cell: "somatoplasm" refers to the protoplasm (the living content of a cell) that constitutes the body cells, as distinct from the germ plasm (the reproductive cells). It includes all the cellular material of an organism's non-reproductive tissues.

Usage Examples

• (The protoplasm of body cells, excluding reproductive cells.)
• (The cellular material of somatic cells.)

Advanced Usage

• "somatoplasm vs. germ plasm": a historical distinction in biology, where somatoplasm is considered to be the non-heritable part of the organism, while germ plasm is the inheritable genetic material.

  • Weismann's theory proposed that only changes in germ plasm, not somatoplasm, affect evolution. (The non-reproductive cellular matter.)

• "somatoplasmic" (adj): relating to or consisting of somatoplasm.

  • Somatoplasmic growth occurs through cell division in body tissues. (Growth of the protoplasm of somatic cells.)

Variants and Related Words

• Somatoplasmic (adj): pertaining to somatoplasm.

  • The somatoplasmic changes were observed in the muscle cells. (Changes in the protoplasm of body cells.)

• Somatic (adj): relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind or reproductive cells.

  • Somatic cells are all cells of the body except the germ cells. (Body cells.)

Synonyms

• Body protoplasm: the living substance of body cells.
• Somatic cell cytoplasm: the cellular material of non-reproductive cells.

Phrasal Verbs

• : "somatoplasm" is a technical noun and does not form phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

• : "somatoplasm" is a specialized biological term and does not appear in common idiomatic expressions.