germ plasm

Noun

germ plasm (uncountable)

1. (dated, historical) The cytoplasm of germ cells.
   • If heredity depends on the presence of a substance, the germ-plasm, which causes the production of the new individual by directing the process of division in ontogeny, in the course of which it becomes changed in a regular manner, the question arises as to how unaltered germ-plasm can nevertheless...1893, August Weismann, translated by W. Newton Parker and Harriet Rönnfeldt, The Germ-plasm: A Theory of Heredity, Charles Scribner's Sons, page 183
   • The germ plasm is of paramount interest, not only to the biologist but to all thinking persons, because while the somatic cells cease to exist with the death of the individual whose body they constitute, the germ plasm may live on indefinitely in succeeding generations.1951, Bradley M. Patten, Early Embryology of the Chick, 4th edition, The Blakiston Company, page 10

   Synonyms:

   pole plasm

2. Germplasm; seeds or tissues maintained for the purpose of animal or plant breeding, preservation or other research uses.
   • Although the IRRI has taken on the global responsibility of conserving rice germ plasm, we find it necessary to enlist the collaboration of other international and national organizations in achieving the goals.1976, Te-Tzu Chang, Manual on Genetic Conservation of Rice Germ Plasm for Evaluation and Utilization, International Rice Research Institute, page 56