PRONUCLEUS

pronucleus

(noun) the nucleus of the ovum or sperm after fertilization but before they fuse to form the nucleus of the zygote

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

pronucleus (plural pronuclei)

Either of the two haploid nuclei (of a sperm and ovum) that fuse during fertilization

Anagrams

• uncouplers

Source: Wiktionary


Pro*nu"cle*us, n.; pl. Pronuclei (-i). Etym: [NL. See Pro-, and Nucleus.] (Biol.)

Definition: One of the two bodies or nuclei (called male and female pronuclei) which unite to form the first segmentation nucleus of an impregnated ovum.

Note: In the maturing of the ovum preparatory to impregnation, a part of the germinal vesicle (see Polar body, under Polar) becomes converted into a number of small vesicles, which aggregate themselves into a single clear nucleus. which travels towards the center of the egg and is called the female pronucleus. In impregnation, the spermatozoƶn which enters the egg soon loses its tail, while the head forms a nucleus, called the male pronucleus, which gradually travels towards the female pronucleus and eventually fuses with it, forming the first segmentation nucleus.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

21 June 2025

SUFFOCATION

(noun) the condition of being deprived of oxygen (as by having breathing stopped); ā€œasphyxiation is sometimes used as a form of tortureā€


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