1. A cell that gives rise to gametes (sperm or egg cells); a germ cell in an early stage of development.
Usage: biology; technical

Examples

• Gonocytes migrate from the yolk sac to the developing gonads during embryonic development.
• The differentiation of gonocytes into oogonia or spermatogonia marks an important stage in gametogenesis.
• Researchers studied how gonocytes respond to hormonal signals in the developing reproductive system.
• Mutations affecting gonocyte development can lead to infertility or developmental disorders.
• In vertebrates, gonocytes are among the first cells to establish the primordial gonad.