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Definition

noun

(1) The cell giving rise to daughter cells by cell division.

(2) Progenitor cell: the precursor or source of other cells.

Supplement

In cell division, a metrocyte is a mother or parent cell that divides to give rise to two daughter cells. In mitosis, the two daughter cells contain the same genetic content as the mother cell. In meiosis, the daughter cells have different genetic content and half the number of chromosomes of the mother cell.

Word origin: metro- : comb. form repr. Gk mtra womb + -cyte, meaning cell.

Synonym: parent cell, brood cell, mother cell.
See also: cell division."