endomitosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low / TechnicalScientific / Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “endomitosis” mean?
A process of nuclear division within a cell without cytoplasmic division, resulting in cells with multiple chromosome sets.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A process of nuclear division within a cell without cytoplasmic division, resulting in cells with multiple chromosome sets.
A form of mitosis where chromosomes replicate but the cell does not divide; leads to endopolyploidy. It is a mechanism for increasing genomic content and cell size in certain tissues (e.g., insect salivary glands, mammalian liver).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences. Pronunciations may slightly vary.
Connotations
Purely technical term; no differing cultural or stylistic connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both UK and US academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “endomitosis” in a Sentence
Endomitosis occurs in [tissue type].[Cell/Tissue] undergoes endomitosis.Endomitosis leads to [result].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “endomitosis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The cell began to endoreduplicate.
American English
- The cell entered an endocycle.
adverb
British English
- The nucleus divided endomitotically.
American English
- Chromosomes replicated endomitotically.
adjective
British English
- The endomitotic process was observed.
American English
- They studied endomitotic cells.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central in cell biology and genetics papers.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used in laboratory reports, scientific textbooks, and specialised research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “endomitosis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “endomitosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “endomitosis”
- Misspelling as 'endomitosis' (incorrect 'i'), confusing it with 'meiosis' or 'apoptosis'. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The cell endomitosed').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Mitosis includes cytokinesis (cell splitting). Endomitosis lacks cytokinesis, resulting in a single polyploid cell.
In specific tissues like insect salivary glands (forming polytene chromosomes) and mammalian hepatocytes (liver cells).
While polyploidy can occur in some cancers, endomitosis itself is a regulated process in normal development and tissue function.
They are often used synonymously, though some definitions restrict endomitosis to visible nuclear division stages without separation, and endoreduplication to multiple rounds of DNA synthesis without mitosis.
A process of nuclear division within a cell without cytoplasmic division, resulting in cells with multiple chromosome sets.
Endomitosis is usually scientific / technical / academic in register.
Endomitosis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛndəʊmaɪˈtəʊsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛndoʊmaɪˈtoʊsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ENDO = inside; MITOSIS = cell division. Think: 'internal mitosis' where division happens inside the nucleus but the cell stays whole.
Conceptual Metaphor
A photocopier repeatedly duplicating a document (chromosomes) but never stapling the copies into separate packets (cells).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary outcome of endomitosis?