somatic cell

noun

: one of the cells of the body that compose the tissues, organs, and parts of that individual other than the germ cells

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web It’s typically accomplished via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Molly Glick, Discover Magazine, 26 Nov. 2021 Scientists sampled tissue from cows across China and used what's called the somatic cell nuclear transfer method to create embryos which were then placed inside surrogate cows. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023 One cloning method is the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT): the nucleus from a healthy egg cell is removed and replaced with a nucleus from another cell. Lauren Sigfusson, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2018 To create Maya, the company used somatic cell nuclear transfer, the same laboratory technique employed to create Dolly the sheep, the world's first-ever mammal clone, over two decades ago. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2022 To create Maya, the company used a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer – the same technique that was used to create the first-ever mammal clone, Dolly the sheep, in 1996. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 20 Sep. 2022 Professor Wilmut just months before in 1996 had cloned a sheep from an adult somatic cell, shocking the world. Bill Frist, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Dolly was the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult somatic cell, which is any type of bodily cell that is not a reproductive germ cell. Bill Frist, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Their traditional methods deliver higher total solids in milk and low somatic cell count, which delivers higher quality milk. David Riemer, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'somatic cell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of somatic cell was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near somatic cell

Cite this Entry

“Somatic cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somatic%20cell. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

somatic cell

noun
: any cell of an animal or plant other than a germ cell

Medical Definition

somatic cell

noun
: any of the cells of the body that compose the tissues, organs, and parts of that individual other than the germ cells

More from Merriam-Webster on somatic cell

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