polar body

noun

Definition of polar body

: a cell that separates from an oocyte during meiosis and that contains a nucleus produced in the first or second meiotic division and very little cytoplasm

Examples of polar body in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But studies of other birds have revealed that on occasion, the polar body somehow merges again with the egg, acting like sperm fertilizing it. — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2021 If an egg with a W chromosome merges with its polar body, the resulting WW embryo will not be viable. — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2021 In one version of parthenogenesis called automixis, an animal can merge a polar body with an egg to produce offspring. — Corryn Wetzel, National Geographic, 25 Aug. 2020 The extra chromosome material left over from the egg’s final stage of division remains in a smaller sphere called a polar body. — Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 Typically, these polar bodies break down in the woman’s body. — Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 This may mean that too much cytoplasm — the fluid inside cells — ended up in the polar body. — Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'polar body.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.