Germ

(jerm) [L,.,germen, sprig, offshoot]. I. A portion of matter capable of developing into a living organism; a spore, seed, or embryo. 2. A bacterium. G.-area, the spot on an ovum where the development of the embryo begins. G. -epithelium, a thickening on the vent rome sial aspect of the Wolffian body, giving rise to the male and female sexual elements. G. -layer, any one of the layers of a developing embryo. G. -plasm, the reproductive or hereditary substance of living organisms, which is pa ed on from the germ-cell in which an organism originates in direct continuity to the germ-cells of succeeding generations. G. -theory, the doctrine of the origin of every organism from a germ or germ-plasm; also the theory that certain diseases are due to the development of microorganisms in the body. 295