protoplast
[ˈproʊtəˌplæst]
nounpl: protoplasts
protoplasto
1. A plant cell that has had its cell wall removed, leaving only the cell membrane and cytoplasm
Scientists created protoplasts by enzymatically removing the cellulose cell wall from plant cells.
Os cientistas criaram protoplastos removendo enzimaticamente a parede celular de celulose das células vegetais.
2. The living contents of a cell, including the cytoplasm and nucleus, excluding the cell wall
The protoplast is essential for plant cell fusion experiments in biotechnology.
O protoplasto é essencial para experimentos de fusão de células vegetais em biotecnologia.
3. In general biology, the smallest unit of protoplasm that can exist independently
Each protoplast contains all the necessary genetic and metabolic machinery for cellular function.
Cada protoplasto contém toda a maquinaria genética e metabólica necessária para a função celular.
The term 'protoplast' is primarily used in scientific and academic contexts, particularly in plant biotechnology and genetic engineering research. It gained prominence in the late 20th century with advances in plant tissue culture and genetic modification techniques. The word is used similarly across English and Portuguese-speaking scientific communities with minimal regional variation.
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