somatic crossing-over In genetics, crossing-over during mitosis of somatic cells such that parent cells heterozygous for a given allele, instead of giving rise to 2 identical heterozygous daughter cells, give rise to daughter cells one of which is homozygous for one of these alleles, the other being homozygous for the other allele. Phenotypically differing cell-lines may result. Studies of somatic crossing-over, somatic assortment, and cell fusion make up somatic-cell genetics, a modern asexual genetic technique that allows a wide range of in vitro manipulation of higher cells, including human cells as well as those of other organisms.

somatic crossing-over In genetics, crossing-over during mitosis of somatic cells, such that parent cells heterozygous for a given allele, instead of giving rise to two identical heterozygous daughter cells, give rise to daughter cells one of which is homozygous for one of these alleles, the other being homozygous for the other allele. Phenotypically differing cell lines may result. Studies of somatic crossing-over, somatic assortment, and cell fusion make up somatic-cell genetics, a modern asexual genetic technique that allows a wide range of in vitro manipulation of higher cells, including human cells, as well as those of other organisms.