macronucleus

American  

[mak-roh-noo-klee-uhs, -nyoo-] / ˌmæk roʊˈnu kli əs, -ˈnju- /

noun

Biology.

1. the larger of the two types of nuclei occurring in ciliate protozoans, having a multiple set of chromosomes and functioning in cell metabolism and protein synthesis.

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macronucleus British  

/ ˌmækrəʊˈnjuːklɪəs /

noun

1. the larger of the two nuclei in ciliated protozoans Compare micronucleus

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Other Word Forms

• macronuclear
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of macronucleus

From New Latin, dating back to 1890–95; see origin at macro-, nucleus

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

macronucleus

Inside are food vacuoles, a large macronucleus, and a small micronucleus.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

This pre-micronucleus undergoes three rounds of mitosis to produce eight copies, and the original macronucleus disintegrates.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The clear spot to the right is the macronucleus, and the blobs are probably storage granules of some sort.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 17, 2013

It’s this other DNA that gets removed from the macronucleus: the macronucleus is a genes-only sort of place.

From New York Times ● Feb. 10, 2010

The macronucleus is in two parts, each band-form, one anterior, the other posterior in position.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Gary N. (Gary Nathan) Calkins

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