Archaeocyte

Archaeocyte

Archaeocytes (from Greek ' "beginning" and ' "hollow vessel") or amoebocytes are amoeboid cells found in sponges. They are totipotent and have varied functions depending on the species.

Location

Archaeocytes are located in the mesohyl, an acellular gelatinous matrix, along with other specialized sponge cells including collencytes and structural elements called spicules. They move about within the mesohyl with amoeba-like movements performing a number of important functions.

Functions

Cellular differentiation is an essential function of the archaeocyte. All specialized cells within the sponge have its origins with the archaeocyte. This is especially important in reproduction as the sex cells of the sponge in sexual reproduction are formed from these amoeboid cells. Similarly in asexual reproduction amoebocytes result in the formation of gemmules which are cyst-like spheres containing more amoebocytes as well as other sponge cells including the phylum specific choanocyte.

References

*cite book | author=Tschinkel, Hayward, Mahoney and Felgenhauer | year=2000 | title=An introduction to Animal Diversity | edition=5th | publisher=Pearson Custome Publishing | location=Boston | id=ISBN 0-536-61552-7
*cite book | author=C. Hickman Jr., L. Roberts, S. Keen, A. Larson and D. Eisenhour | year=2007 | title=Animal Diversity | edition=4th | publisher=McGraw-Hill | location=New York | id=ISBN 978-0-07-252844-2


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • archaeocyte — An amoeboid cell type of sponges (Porifera) …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • archaeocyte — /ahr kee euh suyt /, n. archeocyte. * * * …   Universalium

  • archaeocyte — n. type of cell found in sponges (Zoology) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • archaeocyte — ar·chaeo·cyte …   English syllables

  • archaeocyte — …   Useful english dictionary

  • archeocyte — variant of archaeocyte * * * /ahr kee euh suyt /, n. Zool. (in sponges) a type of amoebocyte capable of developing into other types of cells, esp. reproductive cells. Also, archaeocyte. [1885 90; ARCHEO + CYTE] * * * archeocyte var. archæocyte …   Useful english dictionary

  • ar|che|o|cyte — «AHR kee uh syt», noun. = archaeocyte. (Cf. ↑archaeocyte) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Amebocyte — An amebocyte or amoebocyte is a mobile cell (moving like an amoeba) in the body of invertebrates such as echinoderms, mollusks or sponges. Similar to some of the white blood cells of vertebrates, in many species amebocytes are found in the blood… …   Wikipedia

  • archeocyte — /ahr kee euh suyt /, n. Zool. (in sponges) a type of amoebocyte capable of developing into other types of cells, esp. reproductive cells. Also, archaeocyte. [1885 90; ARCHEO + CYTE] * * * …   Universalium

  • sorite — ˈsōrˌīt noun ( s) Etymology: Greek sōros heap + English ite : archaeocyte …   Useful english dictionary

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