somatic cell: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “somatic cell” mean?
Any cell of a living organism except reproductive cells (gametes).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Any cell of a living organism except reproductive cells (gametes).
In biology and medicine, any cell that forms the body of an organism, undergoes mitosis, and is diploid (containing two sets of chromosomes). These cells make up tissues and organs and are not involved in sexual reproduction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling of related terms may follow regional conventions (e.g., 'haematopoietic' vs. 'hematopoietic').
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in specialised contexts only.
Grammar
How to Use “somatic cell” in a Sentence
[somatic cell] + of + [organism/tissue][adjective] + somatic cellsomatic cell + [verb: undergoes, contains, divides]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “somatic cell” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The somatic cell nucleus was used in the procedure.
- Researchers observed somatic cell mutations.
American English
- The somatic cell nucleus was used in the procedure.
- Researchers observed somatic cell mutations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in biotech/pharma contexts discussing therapies or cloning.
Academic
Common in biology, genetics, medicine, and biotechnology textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Core term in developmental biology, genetics, cloning (SCNT), and regenerative medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “somatic cell”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “somatic cell”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “somatic cell”
- Using 'somatic cell' to refer to any cell, including gametes.
- Misspelling as 'somantic cell' or 'somatik cell'.
- Confusing 'somatic' (body) with 'psychosomatic' (mind-body).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can become various cell types. Most somatic cells are differentiated (e.g., liver cell, skin cell). Some somatic cells can be reprogrammed to become stem-like (induced pluripotent stem cells).
Yes. Mutations that accumulate in somatic cells (e.g., in genes controlling cell division) can lead to uncontrolled growth, resulting in cancers. These mutations are not inherited.
SCNT is a laboratory technique used in cloning. The nucleus from a somatic cell (donor) is transferred into an egg cell that has had its own nucleus removed. This can produce an embryo genetically identical to the donor.
Yes. The concept applies to multicellular organisms. In plants, all cells except the pollen and ovules (the plant's gametes) are considered somatic cells.
Any cell of a living organism except reproductive cells (gametes).
Somatic cell is usually technical/scientific in register.
Somatic cell: in British English it is pronounced /səʊˈmætɪk sɛl/, and in American English it is pronounced /soʊˈmætɪk sɛl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think SOMATIC = SOmatic (body) MATter In Cells. It's all the cells in your SO-MAT (body material), except the tiny reproductive ones.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY AS A SOCIETY OF WORKER CELLS (somatic cells are the 'citizens' doing the daily jobs, while germ cells are the 'royalty' passing on the lineage).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a somatic cell?