| quanta | Plural of quantum. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| quantal mitosis | A controversial concept in cellular differentiation proposed by H. Holtzer and defined by him as a mitosis that yields daughter cells with metabolic options very different from those of the mother cell as opposed to proliferative mitoses in which the daughter cells are identical to the mother cell. Implicit in this is the idea that the changes in cell determination that occur during development take place at these special quantal mitoses. (18 Nov 1997) |
| quantasome | <cell biology> Smallest structural unit of photosynthesis, a particulate component of the thylakoid membrane containing chlorophyll and cytochromes. Origin: Gr. Soma = body (18 Nov 1997) |