pronucleus

(prō no̵̅o̅klē əs, -nyo̵̅o̅-)

noun pl. pronuclei

Zool. the haploid nucleus of either the spermatozoon or the ovum which unite in fertilization to form the fused double (or diploid) nucleus of the fertilized ovum, or zygote

Origin: ModL: see pro- & nucleus

Related Forms:

See pronucleus in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pro·nu·cle·i (-klē-īˌ)
The haploid nucleus of a sperm or egg before fusion of the nuclei in fertilization.

Related Forms:

  • pro·nuˈcle·ar adjective

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