germ cell
Egg or sperm
A germ cell is a reproductive cell—an egg or sperm—that can combine with another to form a new organism.
Unlike somatic cells, which make up the body's tissues, germ cells carry genetic information to the next generation.
The term appears in biology and medicine: Germ cell tumors can develop in the ovaries or testes.
Male reproductive cell
- eggReproductive cell in shell
- ovumFemale reproductive cell
- oocyteUndeveloped female gamete
- ovaFemale reproductive cells
pollen · ovule · spermatogenesis · oogenesis · stamen · pistil · anther · ovary
Existing from the start
- totipotentCan develop into any cell
- pluripotentAble to become many cell types
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
- embryologyStudy of prenatal development
gastrulation · blastocyst · morula · zygote · fertilization · cleavage · embryo · induction
Hereditary code molecule
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- haploidSingle chromosome complement
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
allele · recombination · karyotype · genetic variation · genomics · inheritance · gene expression · mutation
Gamete fusion creating zygote
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- fertilityCapacity for reproduction
- procreationGenerating biological offspring
- ovulationEgg discharge from ovary
implantation · spawning · conjugation · sexual reproduction · propagation · germline · heredity · offspring
sperm
Male reproductive cell
ova · pollen · ovule · spermatogenesis · oogenesis · stamen · pistil · anther · ovary · gonad
primordial
Existing from the start
- totipotentCan develop into any cell
- pluripotentAble to become many cell types
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
embryology · gastrulation · blastocyst · morula · zygote · fertilization · cleavage · embryo · induction · gametophyte
DNA
Hereditary code molecule
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- haploidSingle chromosome complement
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
genotype · allele · recombination · karyotype · genetic variation · genomics · inheritance · gene expression · mutation · locus
fertilization
Gamete fusion creating zygote
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- fertilityCapacity for reproduction
- procreationGenerating biological offspring
ovulation · implantation · spawning · conjugation · sexual reproduction · propagation · germline · heredity · offspring · generation
- cellscells, blood cells, nerve cells, brain cells, mitosis
- germ cellsgamete, ova, ovum, sperm, spermatozoa
- reproductive tissueovary, testis, uterus, endometrium, placenta
- reproductionreproduction, birth, baby, egg, sperm
- geneticsDNA, allele, genotype, genes, gene
- embryologyembryo, zygote, embryology, blastocyst, embryogenesis
germ cellsomatic cell
Non-germline cell type
soma · neuron · blood cell · nerve cell
cell, germ, cellular, germinate, germination, germinating, germinal, celluloid, germinator