cell nucleus

Thesaurus

Noun

cell nucleus - a part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproductionkaryon, nucleuscell - (biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animalspronucleus - the nucleus of the ovum or sperm after fertilization but before they fuse to form the nucleus of the zygotekaryoplasm, nucleoplasm - the protoplasm that constitutes the nucleus of a cellnucleole, nucleolus - a small round body of protein in a cell nucleus; such organelles contain RNA and are involved in protein synthesischromatin, chromatin granule - the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus consisting of DNA and RNA and various proteins; during mitotic division it condenses into chromosomesachromatin - the part of a cell nucleus that is relatively uncolored by stains or dyeslinin - an obsolete term for the network of viscous material in the cell nucleus on which the chromatin granules were thought to be suspendedchromosome - a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order; "humans have 22 chromosome pairs plus two sex chromosomes"cell organ, cell organelle, organelle - a specialized part of a cell; analogous to an organ; "the first organelle to be identified was the nucleus"subthalamic nucleus - an oval mass of grey matter located in the caudal part of the subthalamus; associated with the striate body

Translations

nucleo cellulare

Cell nucleus

The largest of the membrane-bounded organelles which characterize eukaryotic cells; it is thought of as the control center since it contains the bulk of the cell's genetic information in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The nucleus has two major functions: (1) It is the site of synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA), which in turn directs the formation of the protein molecules on which all life depends; and (2) in any cell preparing for division, the nucleus precisely duplicates its DNA for later distribution to cell progeny. See Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), Eukaryotae, Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

The diameter of nuclei ranges from 1 micrometer in intracellular parasites and yeast cells to several millimeters in some insect sperm. Spherical or ellipsoidal nuclei are found in most cell types, although occasionally spindle-shaped, lobulated, disc-shaped, or cup-shaped nuclei may be observed. Although nuclear size and shape are somewhat consistent features of a particular cell type, these features are more variable in cancer cells. In addition, tumor cell nuclei are characterized by indentation, furrowing, elongation, and budding.

The nucleus is bounded by a double membrane (the nuclear envelope) and contains several major components: chromatin, which is composed of DNA and chromosomal proteins; the nucleolus, which is the site of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis; and nucleoplasmic fibrils and granules, some of which are involved in the processing and transport of messenger RNA out of the nucleus (see illustration). The constituents of the nucleus are contained within a framework referred to as the nuclear matrix.

Transmission electron micrograph of a thin section of a rat liver cell nucleus

cell nucleus

noun

Synonyms for cell nucleus

noun a part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction

Synonyms

karyon
nucleus

Related Words

cell
pronucleus
karyoplasm
nucleoplasm
nucleole
nucleolus
chromatin
chromatin granule
achromatin
linin
chromosome
cell organ
cell organelle
organelle
subthalamic nucleus