macronucleus
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English
Etymology
Noun
macronucleus (plural macronuclei)
- (biology) The larger of the two nuclei present in ciliate protozoans; it controls the nonreproductive functions of the cell.
- 1890, American Philosophical Society, Proceedings:
- These binucleated forms have one macronucleus functional and another sexual micronucleus which is not functional in the ordinary life processes of the species.