Amitosis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Amitosis \Am`i*to"sis\, n. [NL. See {A-} not, and {Mitosis}.]
     (Biol.)
     Cell division in which there is first a simple cleavage of
     the nucleus without change in its structure (such as the
     formation of chromosomes), followed by the division of the
     cytoplasm; direct cell division; -- opposed to {mitosis}. It


     is not the usual mode of division, and is believed by many to
     occur chiefly in highly specialized cells which are incapable
     of long-continued multiplication, in transitory structures,
     and in those in early stages of degeneration.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  amitosis
       n : the direct method of cell division characterized by simple
           division of the nucleus without formation of chromosomes