What is the term for an egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed?

The term for an egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed is known as Nuclear Cell Transfer. This process is significant in the context of reproductive and therapeutic cloning. During nuclear cell transfer, the nucleus of a somatic cell (which contains the full genetic material of the organism) is inserted into an enucleated egg cell, meaning there is no nucleus present in that egg cell. This creates a situation where the egg cell can begin to develop into an embryo that is genetically identical to the individual from which the somatic cell was taken.

Understanding this concept is essential, especially when exploring cloning techniques and their applications in agricultural biotechnology, as it plays a crucial role in producing genetically modified organisms and advancing genetic research. Oocytes, while related, refer simply to immature egg cells and do not specify whether the nucleus has been removed. An embryo represents a stage of development post-fertilization and does not pertain specifically to the nucleus being removed from an egg cell. Somatic cells are any cells other than germ cells and are not directly related to the concept of nuclear transfer. Thus, Nuclear Cell Transfer accurately captures the essence of the process described in the question.