micronucleus
nounEtymology From micro- + nucleus.
1
Biology, Natural sciences A small nucleus.
2
Biology, Natural sciences The smaller of the nuclei of a ciliate protozoan (that contains genetic material).
- These binucleated forms have one macronucleus functional and another sexual micronucleus which is not functional in the ordinary life processes of the species.1890, American Philosophical Society, Proceedings:
- Derived terms
- micronuclear