"Mother cell" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈmʌðə ˌsɛl/. The word "mother" is pronounced with the sound /ʌ/ (as in "strut"), followed by the voiced dental fricative /ð/ (as in "this"), and ending with the unstressed schwa sound /ə/. The word "cell" is pronounced with the vowel sound /ɛ/ (as in "met") and the voiceless alveolar plosive /t/ (as in "top"). The combination of these sounds creates the unique pronunciation of "mother cell".
A "mother cell" refers to the initial or parent cell that gives rise to offspring or daughter cells through the process of cell division. It serves as the foundational unit from which new cells are derived or produced. The term "mother cell" is commonly employed in the fields of biology and microbiology to describe these progenitor cells responsible for generating additional cells.
Mother cells are typically undifferentiated or unspecialized, meaning they often possess the potential to differentiate into diverse cell types or undergo specialization. They are primarily involved in the growth, development, and maintenance of living organisms by dividing and producing daughter cells. This division could occur through either mitosis, a process providing genetically identical cells, or meiosis, a process involved in sexual reproduction resulting in genetically unique cells.
The concept of a mother cell can vary depending on the context. For instance, in the field of stem cell research, mother cells can be embryonic stem cells capable of generating various tissue types within an organism. In bacteria, a mother cell is often referred to as the original cell that has undergone binary fission, splitting into two identical daughter cells. In summary, mother cells play a vital role in cellular reproduction and growth, making them fundamental units in the understanding of biological processes.
• A cell which, by division, gives rise to two or more daughter cells.
• A cell which, by fission or budding, produces other similar cells.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "mother cell" consists of two components: "mother" and "cell".
1. Mother: The term "mother" originates from the Old English word "modor", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "*moder". This root has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as German "Mutter", Dutch "moeder", and Swedish "moder".
2. Cell: The word "cell" comes from the Latin "cellula", which means "small room" or "small cell". This Latin term is derived from "cella", referring to a small chamber, storeroom, or sanctuary.
When combined, "mother cell" is used to describe the initial or parent cell from which other cells are derived through division or differentiation.