germ cell

noun

: a gamete (such as an egg or sperm cell) or one of its antecedent cells

Examples of germ cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The results didn’t raise as big of a concern for gene therapy because the AAV vector showed a very low probability of integrating in germ cells. Megan Molteni, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 The dissertation examined how germ cells behaved in one animal. Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 During normal chicken development, the primordial germ cells migrate through the circulatory system and reside in the developing gonad. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2023 But as the quality of the germ cells declines, there is no evolutionary reason to keep extending life span further; from evolution’s perspective, life exists to reproduce itself. Quanta Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024 Evolution in animals is largely driven by mutations in the DNA of germ cells – the sperm and egg that fuse to form an embryo. Monika Joshi, The Conversation, 1 May 2023 If the embryo is male, each primordial germ cell divides to produce two cells called spermatogonia. K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2016 From there, the team converted the XX cells into primordial germ cells, the precursors of eggs and sperm, that were subsequently programmed with the signals to turn them into egg cells. Katie Hunt, CNN, 24 Mar. 2023 Sometimes an entire chromosome is misdirected during the formation of a germ cell. Mark Cohen, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2014

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'germ cell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of germ cell was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near germ cell

Cite this Entry

“Germ cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germ%20cell. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

germ cell

noun
: an egg or sperm cell or one of the cells from which they arise

Medical Definition

germ cell

noun
: an egg or sperm cell or one of their antecedent cells

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