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micronucleus

American  
[mahy-kroh-noo-klee-uhs, -nyoo-] / ˌmaɪ kroʊˈnu kli əs, -ˈnju- /

noun

Biology.
  • micronuclei
    plural
  1. the smaller of the two types of nuclei occurring in ciliate protozoans.


micronucleus British  
/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˈnjuːklɪəs /

noun

  1. the smaller of two nuclei in ciliated protozoans, involved in reproduction Compare macronucleus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of micronucleus

First recorded in 1890–95; micro- + nucleus


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

If the algorithm detects a cell with a micronucleus, it sends the location to the microscope.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026

When a micronucleus ruptures, the chromosome inside is left exposed.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 16, 2026

The micronucleus is essential for sexual reproduction, whereas the macronucleus directs asexual binary fission and all other biological functions.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Three of these degenerate in each cell, leaving one micronucleus that then undergoes mitosis, generating two haploid micronuclei.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The macronucleus is usually single, elliptical in form, and centrally placed; one micronucleus.

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

Chloramphenicol significantly increased DNA damage, measured by changes in blood cells such as micronuclei and other abnormalities.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2026

A machine learning algorithm that was trained using manually labeled examples of micronuclei containing cells then analyzes the images.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026

When the system detects cells containing micronuclei, it marks them using a laser.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026

Three of these degenerate in each cell, leaving one micronucleus that then undergoes mitosis, generating two haploid micronuclei.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The macronucleus is globular and central, occasionally band-form and with numerous attached micronuclei.

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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