Eukaryote

Eukaryote
An organism that consists of one or more cells with a nucleus and other well-developed compartments. People are eukaryotes. Eukaryotes include all organisms except bacteria, viruses and certain (blue-green) algae which, by contrast, are prokaryotes. See: Prokaryote.
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1. A cell containing a membrane-bound nucleus with chromosomes of DNA, RNA, and proteins, mostly large (10–100 μm), with cell division involving a form of mitosis in which mitotic spindles (or some microtubule arrangement) are involved; mitochondria are present, and, in photosynthetic species, plastids are found; undulipodia (cilia or flagella) are of the complex 9+2 organization of tubulin and various proteins. Possession of a e. type of cell characterizes the four kingdoms above the Monera or prokaryote level of complexity : Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia, combined into the superkingdom Eukaryotae. 2. Common name for members of the Eukaryotae. SYN: eucaryote. [eu- + G. karyon, kernel, nut]

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eu·kary·ote also eu·cary·ote (')yü-'kar-ē-.ōt, -ē-ət n any of a domain (Eukarya) or a higher taxonomic group (Eukaryota) above the kingdom that includes organisms composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles compare PROKARYOTE
eu·kary·ot·ic also eu·cary·ot·ic -.kar-ē-'ät-ik adj

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eu·kary·ote (u-karґe-ōt) [eu- + karyon] a member of the Eucarya; an organism whose cells have a true nucleus, i.e., one bounded by a nuclear membrane, within which lie the chromosomes and associated proteins and which exhibits mitosis; eukaryotic cells also contain membrane-bound compartments (organelles), in which cellular functions are performed, and have a cytoskeleton that provides mechanical support for the cell. The cells of plants, animals, fungi, and protists are eukaryotic. Cf. prokaryote. eukaryotic adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • eukaryote — [yo͞o kar′ē ōt΄] n. [< Gr eu , good + karyōtis, a date < karyon, a nut, fruit stone, kernel] a living organism made up of cells with true nuclei that divide by mitosis: in some systems of biological classification, any of a superkingdom… …   English World dictionary

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  • eukaryote — also eucaryote noun Etymology: New Latin Eukaryotes, proposed subdivision of protists, from eu + kary + otes, plural noun suffix, from Greek ōtos more at otic Date: 1943 any of a domain (Eukarya) or a higher taxonomic group (Eukaryota) above the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Eukaryote — Eukaryota Eukaryotes …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Eukaryote — Organism whose cells have (1) chromosomes with nucleosomal structure and separated from the cytoplasm by a two membrane nuclear envelope, and (2) compartmentalisation of a function in distinct cytoplasmic organelles. Contrast Prokaryotes… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • eukaryote — eukaryotic /yooh kar ee ot ik/, adj. /yooh kar ee oht , ee euht/, n. Biol. any organism having as its fundamental structural unit a cell type that contains specialized organelles in the cytoplasm, a membrane bound nucleus enclosing genetic… …   Universalium

  • eukaryote — noun Any of the single celled or multicellular organisms, of the taxonomic domain Eukaryota, whose cells contain at least one distinct nucleus. See Also: eukaryon, eukaryotic, prokaryote …   Wiktionary

  • eukaryote —    A multicellular organism having true membrane bound nuclei containing chromosomes that undergo mitosis …   Forensic science glossary

  • eukaryote — n. organism made up of cells that have cell organelles and nuclei with chromosomes (characteristic of all cells except for bacteria and other very primitive life forms) …   English contemporary dictionary

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