germ cell

noun

, Biology.

1. the sexual reproductive cell at any stage from the primordial cell to the mature gamete.

germ cell

noun

1. a sexual reproductive cell; gamete Compare somatic cell

germ cell

1. One of the diploid cells in the reproductive organs of a multicellular organism that undergo division and are the precursors of haploid gametes, such as a spermatogonium or oogonium.
2. See gamete

Word History and Origins

Origin of germ cell¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Her only physical abnormalities, it seemed, were mild brain inflammation and a teratoma—a rare kind of germ cell tumor—in her ovary.

From Science Magazine

In male germ cell, sperm formation follows the completion of meiosis, with multiple gene regulatory programs.

From Science Daily

These epigenetic changes impact crucial genes involved in hormone signaling and germ cell development, as well as regulation of the epigenetic landscape, suggesting that environmental exposure can have lasting and hereditary effects on gene regulation.

From Science Daily

Almost all sea squirts are hermaphrodites, as they produce both male and female germ cells.

From Science Daily

In this process, the typical elongated sperm cells are formed from round germ cells.

From Science Daily