heterokaryon

[ het-er-uh-kar-ee-on, -uhn ]

noun

, Biology.

, plural het·er·o·kar·y·a [het-er-, uh, -, kar, -ee-, uh].

1. a cell containing two or more nuclei of differing genetic constitutions.

heterokaryon

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈkærɪɒn /

noun

1. biology a fungal cell or mycelium containing two or more nuclei of different genetic constitution

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterokaryon¹

1940–45; hetero- ( def ) + Greek káryon “nut, kernel”; karyo-

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterokaryon¹

from hetero- + karyon , from Greek karuon kernel