synkaryon

plural synkaryons · plural synkarya

1. biologyA cell nucleus formed by the fusion of two preexisting nuclei (such as in an egg and a sperm cell)

   The next step is a fusion of the stationary nucleus with the newly invaded migratory nucleus in each cell. Thus, synkarya are formed by mutual fertilization.

   1986, G. Steinbrück, “Molecular Reorganization During Nuclear Differentiation in Ciliates”, in W. Hennig, editor, Germ Line – Soma Differentiation (Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation; 13), Springer-Verlag, →ISBN, page 109

   3 more examples

   The active pronucleus of each pair moves across the protoplasm and fuses with the opposite passive pronucleus, and thus two synkarya are formed. Each synkaryon divides into four, and thus each cell contains at this period eight nuclei which form the nuclei of eight spores, protected within the thick cyst-wall.

   1908, J[ames] Martin Beattie, W[illiam] E[lliot] Carnegie Dickson, A Text-Book of General Pathology: For the Use of Students and Practitioners, London: Rebman, Limited, […], page 356

   Persistence of two functional synkarya appears to be a clear recapitulation of the ancestral temporary conjugation, when two exconjugants developed. In the second type (Fig. 47, b), this recapitulation is not so strong. Here, although each conjugant produces two pronuclei and two synkarya are formed in the synconjugant, one of them soon degenerates, only the other remaining functional, dividing, and giving rise to new macronuclei and micronuclei of the synconjugant.

   1972, I. B. Raikov, “Nuclear Phenomena During Conjugation and Autogamy in Ciliates”, in Tze-Tuan Chen, editor, Research in Protozoology, volume 4, Pergamon Press, →LCCN, pages 235–236

   One gamete nucleus from each gamont migrates across a cytoplasmic bridge into the other cell and fuses with the nucleus which did not migrate, so that synkarya are formed in each cell.

   1989, Michael A. Sleigh, Protozoa and Other Protists, Cambridge University Press, published 1991, →ISBN, page 82