schizont Zool.
(ˈskaɪzɒnt)
[a. G. schizont (F. Schaudinn 1900, in Zool. Jahrb., Abt. f. Anat. u. Ontogenie XIII. 213), f. Gr. σχίζ-ειν to split (cf. schizo-) + ὀντ-, ὤν, pres. pple. of εἶναι to be, exist.]
In Protozoa, a cell that divides asexually to form daughter cells; esp. in Sporozoa, a multinucleate cell that divides asexually to form merozoites.
| 1900 Jrnl. R. Microsc. Soc. June 336 In the author's [sc. Schaudinn's] nomenclature this process of asexual multiplication is known as schizogony, the mother cells are schizonts, and the daughter cells merozoites... They may grow rapidly.., and become converted into schizonts. 1912, 1957 [see gamont]. 1974 Nature 22 Nov. 268/1 Three different sorts of vaccine are at present being investigated: irradiated sporozoites from the mosquito, extracts from schizonts (developing stages in the blood) and emulsified merozoites (the stages which pass between blood cells). |