germ

anything that provides inspiration for later work

a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism

a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use

That which is to develop a new individual; as, the germ of a fetus, of a plant or flower, and the like; the earliest form under which an organism appears.

The germ cells, collectively, as distinguished from the somatic cells, or soma. Germ is often used in place of germinal to form phrases; as, germ area, germ disc, germ membrane, germ nucleus, germ sac, etc.