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Glite Dictionary
🧬 Without genetic material 🧬 Nonfertile sperm cell
apyrene

apyrene

9.9
A sperm cell without a nucleus and not carrying genetic material
  • adjective
  • /ˌeɪpɪˈriːn/
  • Specialized
: apireno
  • Under the microscope, apyrene sperm can be distinguished by their lack of a nucleus.

Examples

  • Research shows that apyrene sperm do not contribute genetic material during fertilization.

  • Many fish produce apyrene sperm to enhance reproductive success.

  • The biologist identified several apyrene sperm among the sample collected from the insect.

  • The apyrene sperm are not viable.

  • The biologist identified several apyrene sperm among the sample collected from the insect.

  • Research shows that apyrene sperm do not contribute genetic material during fertilization.

  • Under the microscope, apyrene sperm can be distinguished by their lack of a nucleus.

Surface Forms

apyrene positive

Morphology

apyrene = pyrene (opaque) = a + pyrene

The negative prefix 'a-' is recognizable, but 'pyrene' is a rare/specialized base not known to average learners, so the meaning is not transparently derivable.

Etymology

Apyrene comes from the prefix a- meaning 'not' and pyrene meaning 'kernel' or 'stone'. So, it literally means 'no kernel', which helps explain why apyrene sperm lack a nucleus and do not carry genetic material.