Definition of melanocyte
:an epidermal cell that produces melanin
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Recent Examples of melanocyte from the Web
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There’s also evidence that UV light can push melanocytes—the cells that produce dark pigment in skin—to release endorphins, a feel-good chemical.
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Applying the compound to human skin activates the same tanning response as the sun: the melanocytes in the skin make pigment and then carry the pigment to other skin cells.
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A. Hair goes gray as cells called melanocytes at the base of each hair follicle get damaged by disease, environmental exposures or simply age.
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Melanoma arises in the melanocytes, cells that produce melanin and give the skin color.
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The melanocytes act as a natural sunscreen by darkening your face and thus make the skin less susceptible to UV rays.
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Melanocytes that live between follicles control skin color, says Greg Barsh, a geneticist at Hudson Alpha Biotechnology Institute in Huntsville, Alabama.
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All mammalian hair color is dictated by melanin-producing cells, called melanocytes, that live within hair follicles.
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The researchers put human BRAF and P53 genes in every melanocyte, the pigmented skin cells, of the fish.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'melanocyte.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of melanocyte
International Scientific Vocabulary
Medical Dictionary
melanocyte
play
noun
me·la·no·cyte
\
mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌsīt
,
ˈmel-ə-nō-
\
medical Definition of melanocyte
:an epidermal cell that produces melanin — compare melanoblast
Learn More about melanocyte
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about melanocyte
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