Blastocyte

/ˈblæstəsaɪt/ noun

Definition

A cell of the blastula or early embryonic stage; an embryonic cell during initial divisions.

Etymology

From Greek 'blastos' (embryo, bud) + 'kytos' (cell). The '-cyte' suffix means 'cell' and appears in terms like leucocyte and osteocyte.

Kelly Says

The '-cyte' suffix is the standard way to name cells—blastocyte, white blood cell, nerve cell—and it comes from Greek, showing how one ancient language gave us the vocabulary for modern cell biology!

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