nuclear membrane

noun

: a double membrane enclosing a cell nucleus and having its outer part continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum

called also nuclear envelope

see cell illustration

Examples of nuclear membrane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That's not an easy task to accomplish because the nuclear membrane is a notoriously tough shield that protects our genetic code. Michael Franco, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2024 More complex organisms like ourselves descend from eukaryotes, which have a nuclear membrane around their DNA (as opposed to prokaryotes, which don’t). Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2024 Something else in a cell is octagonal: the pores in the nuclear membrane, through which molecules pass between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Betsy Hanson, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 There is, therefore, no physical connection, not even contact between your DNA, which is in your chromosomes, in the nucleus of your cells, and the messenger RNA you are injected with, which simply crosses the cell membrane (never the nuclear membrane) and is processed outside the nucleus. Enrique Dans, Forbes, 16 May 2021 First, the mRNA would need a nuclear signal to be able to get through the nuclear membrane into the nucleus of a cell. Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2022 Messenger RNA is not processed in the cell nucleus, but in ribosomes, outside the nuclear membrane. Enrique Dans, Forbes, 16 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nuclear membrane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nuclear membrane was in 1852

Dictionary Entries Near nuclear membrane

Cite this Entry

“Nuclear membrane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuclear%20membrane. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

nuclear membrane

noun
: a double membrane enclosing a cell nucleus

called also nuclear envelope

Medical Definition

nuclear membrane

noun
: a double membrane enclosing a cell nucleus and having its outer part continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum

called also karyotheca

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