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Somatic cell

Definition

noun, plural: somatic cells

Any cell of the body of a multicellular organism -- excluding the germ cells (i.e. sperm and ovum), gametocytes (precursor germ cells), and undifferentiated stem cells


Supplement

Somatic cells are cells that make up the internal organs, bones, blood, connective tissues, and skin. In humans, somatic cells are characteristically diploid whereas germ cells are haploid.


Word origin: Gk sōmatikós of = pertaining to the body.

Synonym(s):

  • body cell

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Re: Knockout mice

"Does this imply that all the somatic cells in the mice contain 1 copy of the functional gene and 1 copy of the non-functional gene? " ...

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by jonmoulton
Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:51 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Knockout mice
Replies: 5
Views: 645

Knockout mice

Thanks for your response! Does this imply that all the somatic cells in the mice contain 1 copy of the functional gene and 1 copy of the non-functional gene? Would ...

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by cassieconte
Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:08 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Knockout mice
Replies: 5
Views: 645

Stem Cells/Differentiation

Adult stem cells Also known as progenitor cells or somatic stem cells, adult stem cells are located, in small quantities, throughout the body and generate specialized ...

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by MarkHolland
Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:29 am
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Stem Cells/Differentiation
Replies: 3
Views: 1081

cancer spread biology?

... granulocytic differentiation of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60. 2nd Int Conf on Qigong. Xian, China. 95E; 1989. 13. Chen, ... by Qigong Master by Laser Raman Spectrometer. Chinese Journal of Somatic Science. 1992 Feb 1; 2(1): 24. 51. Qian, Zhusen [and others]. Experimental ...

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by suzidoc8
Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:10 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: cancer spread biology?
Replies: 4
Views: 4659

Why do cells age?

... of the DNA that are added at the tips of chromosomes, and as a cell is passing through its division cycle, the DNA is replicated and the ... why) and germ cells. Therefore, because it doesn't exist in the normal somatic cells, these cells will die at some point, and well, as you know, ...

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by Hasansalhi
Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:16 am
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Why do cells age?
Replies: 23
Views: 6595
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