heterokaryon

noun

het·​ero·​kary·​on ˌhe-tə-rō-ˈker-ē-ˌän 

-ən,

-ˈka-rē-

: a cell (as in the mycelium of a fungus) that contains two or more genetically unlike nuclei

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from heter- + karyon, nucleus, from Greek, nut, kernel

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

heterokaryon

noun

het·​ero·​kary·​on

variants also heterocaryon

ˌhet-ə-rō-ˈkar-ē-ˌän, -ən 

: a cell in the mycelium of a fungus that contains two or more genetically unlike nuclei compare homokaryon