A series of germ cells each descended or developed from earlier cells in the series, regarded as continuing through successive generations of an organism.
〔生〕种系，生殖系
Example sentencesExamples
We might alter the germ line of the present generation, only to cripple the human capacity to adapt to those challenges in the future.
Most animal cells, including the cells of the germ line, have two copies of each chromosome: one from the animal's mother, the other from the father.
The figures trace the development of the progenitor cell of the germ line and of the subsequent formation of gametes within a single organism.
In all but the simplest animals, the cells of the germ line are the only cells that can give rise to a new organism.
Transgenesis refers to the process of introducing exogenous genes into the germ line of an organism.
Definition of germ line in US English:
germ line
noun
Biology
A series of germ cells each descended or developed from earlier cells in the series, regarded as continuing through successive generations of an organism.
〔生〕种系，生殖系
Example sentencesExamples
In all but the simplest animals, the cells of the germ line are the only cells that can give rise to a new organism.
Transgenesis refers to the process of introducing exogenous genes into the germ line of an organism.
The figures trace the development of the progenitor cell of the germ line and of the subsequent formation of gametes within a single organism.
We might alter the germ line of the present generation, only to cripple the human capacity to adapt to those challenges in the future.
Most animal cells, including the cells of the germ line, have two copies of each chromosome: one from the animal's mother, the other from the father.