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Glite Dictionary
mother cell

mother cell

6.5
A cell that makes another cell during the growth or reproduction of a living thing
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌðər sɛl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : célula madre
  • The mother cell divides to form two daughter cells.

Examples

  • A mother cell divides to give rise to two genetically identical daughter cells.

  • The yeast mother cell produces a small bud that eventually separates as a new organism.

  • Spores are produced when a mother cell undergoes meiotic division.

  • In biology, a mother cell is essential for growth.

  • During cell division, the mother cell splits to produce two genetically identical daughter cells.

  • The mother cell serves as the source from which new cells originate during the organism's growth.

  • After the mother cell divides, each resulting daughter cell carries the same genetic material.

Synonyms

stem cell
vsmother cell
  • Specialized
77 4.1

A basic body unit that can become different kinds of cells and make more of itself

is a cell that gives rise to another cell often without self renewal
spore mother cell
vsmother cell
  • Specialized
9.3

A cell in plants, fungi, or algae that divides to make four spores with half the usual genes

is a general cell that produces other cells often of a different type

Surface Forms

mother cell singular
mother cells plural

Morphology

mother + cell

The meaning 'a cell that gives rise to another cell' is directly and transparently built from 'mother' (parent) + 'cell' (a living unit): the kinship metaphor maps straightforwardly to a biological parent–offspring relation. This is a conventional, cross-linguistic term in biology, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words can reliably infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Mother cell gets its name from a clear image: one cell acting like a mother by making a new 'daughter' cell when it divides. So, the term means 'a cell that makes another cell'.