PRIMORDIAL CELL Meaning and
Definition
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A primordial cell refers to the earliest and most basic form of a living cell that is believed to have existed in the primordial soup during the development of life on Earth. It represents the starting point of cellular life and is considered the cornerstone of biological evolution.
Characteristically, a primordial cell is a prokaryotic cell, lacking a distinct nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, which are typically found in more complex eukaryotic cells. It is believed to have emerged billions of years ago, potentially forming from a combination of organic molecules and energy sources present in the Earth's early atmosphere.
Primordial cells are typically single-celled organisms that possess the fundamental components required for basic metabolic processes, such as DNA or RNA for genetic information, enzymes for catalyzing biochemical reactions, and a primitive cellular membrane to separate the internal environment from the external surroundings.
These cells are believed to have undergone continuous genetic variations and mutations, gradually giving rise to more complex organisms over a vast expanse of time. The primordial cell holds immense significance in the study of early life and the origin of species as it represents the initial step in the evolutionary process by paving the way for the development of more intricate organisms.
Although primordial cells themselves may no longer exist today, their hypothetical existence remains crucial in understanding the origins and progression of life on Earth.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PRIMORDIAL CELL
- orimordial cell
- lrimordial cell
- -rimordial cell
- 0rimordial cell
- peimordial cell
- pdimordial cell
- pfimordial cell
- ptimordial cell
- p5imordial cell
- p4imordial cell
- prumordial cell
- prjmordial cell
- prkmordial cell
- promordial cell
- pr9mordial cell
- pr8mordial cell
- prinordial cell
- prikordial cell
- prijordial cell
- primirdial cell
Etymology of PRIMORDIAL CELL
The term "primordial" comes from the Latin word "primordialis", which means "first created" or "original". It is derived from the combination of "primus" meaning "first" and "oriri" meaning "to rise" or "to be born".
The word "cell" has its roots in the Latin word "cella", which refers to a small room or cell. It later evolved to describe the basic unit of a living organism.
Therefore, the etymology of "primordial cell" implies a cell that is considered the first or original building block of life.
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