mesosome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific (Historical)
Quick answer
What does “mesosome” mean?
A non-natural, artefactual structure in bacteria, produced by chemical fixation for electron microscopy, once thought to be a functional organelle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A non-natural, artefactual structure in bacteria, produced by chemical fixation for electron microscopy, once thought to be a functional organelle.
A historical term in cell biology for an infolding of the plasma membrane in certain bacteria, now understood to be a preparation artifact, not a true cellular structure. It serves as a cautionary example in the history of science regarding methodological artifacts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Identical; denotes a discredited scientific concept.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “mesosome” in a Sentence
The mesosome was [verb in past tense, e.g., observed, described, considered] as...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mesosome” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Early micrographs appeared to mesosome the bacterial membrane.
- The membrane was seen to mesosome in the early studies.
American English
- The fixation process caused the membrane to mesosome.
- Researchers argued the membrane did not truly mesosome in vivo.
adverb
British English
- The membrane folded mesosomally under those conditions.
- The structure was mesosomally derived.
American English
- The infolding occurred mesosomally, not naturally.
- It was a mesosomally induced feature.
adjective
British English
- The mesosomal structure was later debunked.
- They published a paper on mesosomal artifacts.
American English
- The mesosomal hypothesis was influential for a time.
- This is a classic mesosomal preparation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical reviews of microbiology, philosophy of science (discussions on artifacts and theory-laden observation), and scientific methodology textbooks.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Used in specialized literature on electron microscopy techniques, history of bacteriology, and as a classic example of a methodological artifact in life sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mesosome”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mesosome”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mesosome”
- Using it as a current, valid term for a bacterial structure. Incorrectly assuming it has a present-day biological function.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. It is an artifact created during the chemical fixation process used to prepare samples for electron microscopy in the mid-20th century.
It is primarily taught in historical or methodological contexts as a classic case study in scientific error, demonstrating the importance of critical evaluation of experimental techniques and results.
Improved preparation techniques for electron microscopy, such as cryofixation, revealed that the structures did not exist in living cells. The functional roles once attributed to mesosomes (e.g., in DNA replication) were assigned to other, genuine cellular components.
No, it should only be used in the past tense or in historical discussions, always with clarification that it refers to a discredited artifact, not a genuine structure.
A non-natural, artefactual structure in bacteria, produced by chemical fixation for electron microscopy, once thought to be a functional organelle.
Mesosome is usually technical/scientific (historical) in register.
Mesosome: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛsə(ʊ)səʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛsəˌsoʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MESOSOME = MESS-O-SOME: Remember it as a 'mess' or artifact that 'some' scientists once thought they saw.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GHOST IN THE MACHINE: An apparent structure that is not truly part of the functional organism.
Practice
Quiz
What is a mesosome?