karyosome

[kar-ee-uh-sohm]

noun

Cell Biology.

1. Also called chromocenter. any of several masses of chromatin in the reticulum of a cell nucleus.

2. a chromosome.

karyosome

/ ˈkærɪəʊˌsəʊm /

noun

1. any of the dense aggregates of chromatin in the nucleus of a cell

2. the nucleus of a cell

Word History and Origins

Origin of karyosome¹

First recorded in 1885–90; karyo- + -some ³

Example Sentences

Its most conspicuous feature is the large deeply-staining karyosome, which consists of the greater part of the chromatin of the nucleus intimately bound up with a plastinoid basis.

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The fragments of the karyosome, which are, as it were, squeezed out to the exterior, exert a powerful attraction upon the microgametes, many of which swarm round the now mature megagamete.

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