somatic cell
Non-reproductive body cell
A somatic cell is any cell in the body that is not a reproductive cell.
Unlike germ cells (sperm and egg), which carry only half the genetic material and exist to create offspring, somatic cells make up everything else—skin, muscle, bone, organs, blood.
They contain the full complement of chromosomes and reproduce through ordinary cell division.
Gene therapy targets somatic cells rather than germ cells to avoid heritable changes.
Gel surrounding the nucleus
- organelleSubcellular functional unit
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
ribosome · endoplasmic reticulum · lysosome · peroxisome · cytoskeleton · eukaryotic · diploid · chromosome
Two complete chromosome sets
- chromosomeDNA strand carrying genes
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- gene expressionDNA to functional product
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
translation · mutation · epigenetics · histone · methylation · karyotype · genotype · phenotype
Nuclear division producing identical cells
- cytokinesisCytoplasmic division after mitosis
- interphasePre-division growth stage
- prophaseFirst mitotic stage
- metaphaseChromosomal equator formation stage
anaphase · telophase · replication · proliferation · centromere · checkpoint · DNA synthesis · daughter cells
Fiber-producing connective cell
- osteocyteBone-maintaining cell in matrix
- chondrocyteCell producing cartilage matrix
- hepatocyteFunctional liver cell
- neuronImpulse-conducting cell
endothelial · epithelial · macrophage · lymphocyte · erythrocyte · platelet · osteoblast
Disposable soft paper
- organBody's working component
- epitheliumTissue covering body surfaces
- connective tissueSupportive biological matrix
- muscleContractile body tissue
skin · bone · cartilage · blood · nervous tissue · adipose · dermis · epidermis
Surgical organ relocation
- autologousFrom the same organism
- gene therapyMedical DNA modification treatment
- clinical trialsControlled health research experiments
- personalized medicineTreatment based on individual traits
Nickname for Dorothy
- reprogrammingAltering original functional instructions
- enucleationComplete surgical excision
- reproductive cloningCreating genetically identical organisms
- totipotentCan develop into any cell
cytoplasm
Gel surrounding the nucleus
mitochondria · ribosome · endoplasmic reticulum · lysosome · peroxisome · cytoskeleton · eukaryotic · diploid · chromosome · chromatin
diploid
Two complete chromosome sets
- chromosomeDNA strand carrying genes
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- gene expressionDNA to functional product
transcription · translation · mutation · epigenetics · histone · methylation · karyotype · genotype · phenotype · allele
mitosis
Nuclear division producing identical cells
- cytokinesisCytoplasmic division after mitosis
- interphasePre-division growth stage
- prophaseFirst mitotic stage
metaphase · anaphase · telophase · replication · proliferation · centromere · checkpoint · DNA synthesis · daughter cells
fibroblast
Fiber-producing connective cell
- osteocyteBone-maintaining cell in matrix
- chondrocyteCell producing cartilage matrix
- hepatocyteFunctional liver cell
neuron · endothelial · epithelial · macrophage · lymphocyte · erythrocyte · platelet · osteoblast
tissue
Disposable soft paper
- organBody's working component
- epitheliumTissue covering body surfaces
- connective tissueSupportive biological matrix
muscle · skin · bone · cartilage · blood · nervous tissue · adipose · dermis · epidermis · parenchyma
transplantation
Surgical organ relocation
- autologousFrom the same organism
- gene therapyMedical DNA modification treatment
- clinical trialsControlled health research experiments
Dolly
Nickname for Dorothy
- reprogrammingAltering original functional instructions
- enucleationComplete surgical excision
- reproductive cloningCreating genetically identical organisms