germ plasm

noun2

1. •
   Germplasm; seeds or tissues maintained for the purpose of animal or plant breeding, preservation or other research uses.
2. •
   (old-fashioned, historical) The cytoplasm of germ cells.

   • The eugenics movement […] placed the blame squarely on the degenerative germ plasm passed down from generation to generation, corrupting entire bloodlines. — 2006