ARCHEOCYTE Meaning and
Definition
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Archeocyte is a noun that refers to a special type of cell found in certain animals, especially in sponges. It is derived from the Greek words "archaios", meaning ancient or primitive, and "kytos", meaning cell.
Archeocytes are typically amoeboid or spherical in shape and have the ability to move throughout the body of the organism. These cells are considered to be totipotent, meaning that they have the potential to differentiate into various specialized cell types, such as cells involved in digestion, reproduction, and structural support.
In sponges, archeocytes play a crucial role in multiple processes. They are responsible for digestion, as they engulf and digest food particles. Archeocytes are also involved in reproduction, as they can differentiate into germ cells, which are necessary for the development of new individuals. Additionally, they are involved in the maintenance and repair of the sponge's skeleton by secreting collagen and spicules.
Archeocytes are considered to be a primitive form of stem cells, as they possess the ability to give rise to multiple cell types. Their presence in sponges highlights the remarkable regenerative abilities of these animals, as they can regenerate whole organisms from fragments due to the pluripotency of archeocytes.
Overall, archeocytes are highly versatile cells found in sponges, possessing diverse functions and the ability to differentiate into various cell types, making them a critical component of sponge biology.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ARCHEOCYTE
- zrcheocyte
- srcheocyte
- wrcheocyte
- qrcheocyte
- aecheocyte
- adcheocyte
- afcheocyte
- atcheocyte
- a5cheocyte
- a4cheocyte
- arxheocyte
- arvheocyte
- arfheocyte
- ardheocyte
- arcgeocyte
- arcbeocyte
- arcneocyte
- arcjeocyte
- arcueocyte
- arcyeocyte
Etymology of ARCHEOCYTE
The word "archeocyte" is derived from Greek roots.
The first part, "arche-", comes from the Greek word "arkhē", meaning "beginning" or "source". In scientific terminology, "arche-" refers to the most basic or primitive form of something.
The second part, "-cyte", also has Greek origins. It comes from the Greek word "kutos", meaning "cell". In scientific terminology, "-cyte" is used to denote a type of cell or cellular element.
When combined, "archeocyte" refers to a primitive or basic form of a cell or a specialized cell type found in certain organisms.
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