A germ cell is any biological cell that gives rise to the gametes of an organism that reproduces sexually. In many animals, the germ cells originate near the gut of an embryo and migrate to the developing gonads. There, they undergo cell division of two types, mitosis and meiosis, followed by cellular differentiation into mature gametes, either eggs or sperm. Unlike animals, plants do not have germ cells set aside in early development. Instead, germ cells can come from somatic cells in the adult (such as the floral meristem of flowering plants).
Read more about Germ Cell: Introduction, Specification, Migration, Gametogenesis, Diseases, Induced Differentiation From Stem Cells
Famous quotes containing the words germ and/or cell:
“I care not by what measure you end the war. If you allow one single germ, one single seed of slavery to remain in the soil of America, whatever may be your object, depend upon it, as true as effect follows cause, that germ will spring up, that noxious weed will thrive, and again stifle the growth, wither the leaves, blast the flowers, and poison the fair fruits of freedom. Slavery and freedom cannot exist together.”
—Ernestine L. Rose (1810–1892)
“each in the cell of himself is almost convinced of his freedom,”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)