View synonyms for protoplast

protoplast

[ proh-tuh-plast ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Biology.
1. the contents of a cell within the cell membrane, considered as a fundamental entity.
2. the primordial living unit or cell.
a person or thing that is formed first; original; prototype.
the hypothetical first individual or one of the supposed first pair of a species or the like.

protoplast

/ ˈprəʊtəˌplæst /

a unit consisting of the living parts of a cell, including the protoplasm and cell membrane but not the vacuoles or (in plants) the cell wall

1525–35; < Late Latin prōtoplastus the first man, noun use of Greek prōtóplastos formed first. See proto-, -plast

C16: from Late Latin prōtoplastus the first-formed, from Greek prōtoplastos, from proto- + plassein to shape

For this, the simplest form of the protoplast community is a single pair.

Verse cxxiv., protoplast, the original, the thing first formed.

The differentiation into nucleus and cytoplasm represents a division of labour in the protoplast.

Or, supposing such protoplast pairs to have been numerous, what were the respective original locations of each?

Fortunately the time was already past when protoplast patients were looked upon as something mildly freakish and to be pitied.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse