Genetics
Somatic
Relating to body cells as opposed to reproductive (germline) cells. Somatic cells make up the body's tissues and organs; mutations in somatic cells are not inherited by offspring.
Biological Context
All cells except eggs and sperm are somatic. Somatic mutations cause cancer and aging but don't affect descendants. The soma (body) is disposable—it exists to support the germline. This 'disposable soma' theory helps explain why organisms age.
Business Application
Somatic business elements: operational processes, individual products, specific employees. These can change or fail without affecting the organization's core 'genetic' identity that persists across generations.