dikaryon
|di-kar-i-on|
🇺🇸
/daɪˈkɛriˌɑn/
🇬🇧
/daɪˈkærɪɒn/
two nuclei in one fungal cell
Etymology
'dikaryon' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'di-' meaning 'two' and 'karyon' meaning 'nut, kernel; (in biology) nucleus.'
'di-' + 'karyon' were combined in New Latin/International Scientific Vocabulary to form 'dikaryon', which was then adopted into modern English scientific terminology.
Initially, it meant 'a cell with two nuclei', and this core meaning has remained stable in modern biological usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a fungal cell or hyphal compartment containing two genetically distinct, compatible haploid nuclei within the same cell (n + n).
Under the microscope, the hyphal cell was identified as a dikaryon with two separate nuclei.
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Noun 2
the dikaryotic stage or mycelium in the life cycle of certain fungi, composed predominantly of cells each with two nuclei.
In many basidiomycetes, the dikaryon persists for most of the life cycle before karyogamy occurs.
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Last updated: 2025/08/12 03:35