The germ line is defined as the sequence of cells in a multicellular organism (e.g. a human being) that leads from the egg cell to the germ cells (generative cells) of the new individual. The somatic cell lines branching from the germ line form the body (soma). The future germ cells can often be morphologically distinguished from the soma cells already in the early ontogenesis. Like unicellular organisms, germ line cells are potentially immortal. Soma cells on the other hand are subject to normal cell death.