Describing a cell or organism that contains nuclei from two or more different genetic sources.
From heterocaryon + -ic (adjective suffix). The adjectival form allows researchers to describe cells or conditions with this nuclear diversity.
Heterocaryotic fungi are nature's genetic chimeras—they're single organisms that are genetically two-for-one, and this property is used in biotechnology labs to create new strains of organisms that produce useful chemicals.
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