somatoplasm

== English == === Etymology === From somato- +‎ plasm. === Noun === somatoplasm (countable and uncountable, plural somatoplasms) The protoplasm of somatic cells. ==== Usage notes ==== The term relates to the obsolete germ plasm theory (Keimplasmatheorie), described in 1892 by German biologist August Weismann. Through his theory he rejected Lamarckism and proposed what came to be called the Weismann barrier: the principle that germ cells can influence somatic cells but not vice versa. Weismann's theory was made obsolete by genetics, but the idea that changes acquired during an organism's life cannot affect its offspring is still broadly accepted. ==== Coordinate terms ==== germ plasm ==== Related terms ==== soma ==== Translations ==== === See also === germplasm === Further reading === Germ plasm on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Weismann barrier on Wikipedia.Wikipedia