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Glite Dictionary
pronuclear

pronuclear

1 9.8
Happening before a new cell's nucleus forms after an egg and sperm join
  • adjective
  • /ˌproʊˈnjuːklɪər/
  • Specialized
: pronuclear
  • pronuclear imagery

Surface Forms

pronuclear positive

Morphology

pronuclear = nuclear (semi-transparent) = pro + nucle + ar

The meaning 'before the nuclear stage' is fairly inferable from 'pro-' plus 'nuclear', but it is a specialized biological use rather than an everyday derivation.

Etymology

Pronuclear is made of pro- ('before') and nuclear (from nucleus, 'core' or 'center'). So pronuclear means 'before the nucleus' and describes the stage just before a cell's nucleus forms, for example in early fertilization.