nucleolar organizer

9.6

A region on a chromosome that helps form the nucleolus after cell division

noun
/ˈnjuːklɪˌoʊlər ˈɔːrɡənaɪzər/

Specialized

: organizador nucleolar

The nucleolar organizer plays a crucial role in nucleolus formation during cell division.

Examples

The presence of a nucleolar organizer can be detected through specialized staining techniques.
Scientists identified abnormalities in the nucleolar organizer region of certain chromosomes.
The nucleolar organizer plays a crucial role in cell division.
Researchers study the nucleolar organisers in various organisms.
Scientists identified abnormalities in the nucleolar organizer region of certain chromosomes.
The nucleolar organizer plays a crucial role in nucleolus formation during cell division.
The presence of a nucleolar organizer can be detected through specialized staining techniques.

Synonyms

nucleolus organizer

vsnucleolar organizer

Specialized

1 9.9

Part of a chromosome that makes the nucleolus after cell division

is identical in meaning but uses an alternative form of the term

Surface Forms

nucleolar organizer singular

nucleolar organizers plural

Morphology

nucleolar + organizer

The noun is compositionally built from 'nucleolar' (pertaining to the nucleolus) + 'organizer' (one/thing that organizes), so a learner who knows those constituents can infer it denotes something that organizes or is involved in organizing the nucleolus. Although the precise technical sense (a chromosomal region) requires domain knowledge in biology, the basic meaning is transparently derivable from the parts.

Etymology

The term nucleolar organizer comes from a simple image: a small region of a chromosome that 'organizes' the nucleolus. Nucleolar points to the nucleolus and organizer is like something that brings parts together. After a cell divides, this place helps 'make' the nucleolus, so the name means the chromosome spot that helps form the nucleolus.