A fungal cell or organism that contains nuclei (the cell centers) from two or more different genetic sources or species.
From hetero- (different) + -caryon (from Greek karyon, nucleus). The term describes cells with nuclei of different genetic origins coexisting in the same cytoplasm.
Heterokaryons allowed scientists to do something amazing: fuse fungi from completely different species and watch their nuclei cooperate inside one cell. This technique revealed how genes turn on and off, and earned scientists a Nobel Prize.
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