amphikaryon
|am-phi-kar-y-on|
C2
/ˌæmfɪˈkæriˌɒn/
dual-nucleus
Etymology
Etymology Information
'amphikaryon' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'amphi-' meaning 'both' and 'karyon' meaning 'nut' or 'kernel', referring to the nucleus.
Historical Evolution
'Amphikaryon' was directly borrowed from Greek into modern scientific terminology.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any dual-nucleus structure, but now it specifically refers to certain fungal and algal nuclei.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a cell nucleus containing two haploid sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, typically found in certain fungi and algae.
The amphikaryon is crucial for the genetic diversity in fungi.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/22 02:36