progenitor

Progenitor is a noun that refers to a person or thing from which someone or something descended or originated. In everyday language it denotes an ancestor or parent. In scientific contexts it designates a source or precursor from which others emerge, often implying a direct lineage or developmental relationship.

In biology, a progenitor cell is a cell that has the capacity to differentiate into a specific mature cell type but is more limited in potential than a stem cell. Progenitors are typically involved in tissue development and maintenance, dividing to yield differentiated cells while sustaining a population for growth and repair. Examples include neural progenitor cells, which give rise to neurons and glial cells, and hematopoietic progenitors, which produce various blood cell lineages.

In evolutionary biology and paleontology, a progenitor species or population refers to an ancestral form from which descendant species diverge. The term emphasizes ancestry and lineage, but it does not always imply a direct, observed ancestor; it may describe a historical lineage or lineage segment rather than a proven direct predecessor.

In astronomy, a progenitor can refer to an original star or stellar object that evolves into another state, such as a progenitor star that ends its life cycle as a supernova. The term is used to describe the precursor stage of astronomical events or objects.

Etymology: progenitor comes from Latin progenitor, from pro- “before” and gignere “to beget.” The word is closely related to progeny and lineage, and it is used across disciplines to denote origins and upstream sources.