What is the Metasome?

Metasome is a term used in biology to describe the collection of all the somatic cells in an organism, excluding the germ cells (egg and sperm). The somatic cells are the cells that make up the majority of the body's tissues and organs, such as skin cells, muscle cells, and blood cells. The metasome is essentially the sum of all the somatic cells in an organism, and it is often used as a way to study the development and behavior of these cells.

The term "meta" in this context refers to the fact that the metasome is a collection of cells that are not necessarily related by lineage or function, but rather are brought together to form a larger entity. The metasome is often contrasted with the germ line, which is the collection of cells that give rise to gametes (egg and sperm) and are involved in the reproduction of an organism.

The study of the metasome is known as metasomatics, and it involves the analysis of the genetic and epigenetic changes that occur in somatic cells during development and aging. Metasomatics can be used to understand the mechanisms underlying tissue regeneration, cancer, and other diseases that affect the somatic cells.

In summary, the metasome is the collection of all the somatic cells in an organism, excluding the germ cells, and it is a useful concept for studying the development and behavior of these cells.