fission

[fish´un]

1. the act of splitting.

2. asexual reproduction in which the cell divides into two (binary fission) or more (multiple fission) daughter parts, each of which becomes an individual organism.

3. nuclear fission; the splitting of the atomic nucleus, with release of energy.

binary fission the halving of the nucleus and then of the cytoplasm of the cell, as occurs in protozoa.

fis·sion

(fish'ŭn),

1. The act of splitting, for example, amitotic division of a cell or its nucleus.

2. Splitting of the nucleus of an atom.

[L. fissio, a cleaving, fr. findo, pp. fissus, to cleave]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

fission

(fĭsh′ən, fĭzh′-)

1. The act or process of splitting into parts.

2. Biology An asexual reproductive process in which a unicellular organism divides into two or more independently maturing daughter cells.

v. fis·sioned, fis·sioning, fis·sions

fis·sion

(fish'ŭn)

1. The act of splitting, e.g., amitotic division of a cell or its nucleus.

2. Splitting of the nucleus of an atom.

[L. fissio, a cleaving, fr. findo, pp. fissus, to cleave]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

fission

Splitting into parts.

1. The asexual reproductive process by which a single-celled organism or a single cell in a multicellular organism splits into two daughter cells.

2. An atomic event in which the nucleus of an atom splits into fragments, with the loss of a small quantity of matter and the evolution of radiational energy of at least 100 million electron volts (mV).

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

fission

see BINARY FISSION.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

fis·sion

(fish'ŭn)

1. The act of splitting, e.g., a mitotic division of a cell or its nucleus.

2. Splitting of the nucleus of an atom.

[L. fissio, a cleaving, fr. findo, pp. fissus, to cleave]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012

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Mitchell Lane Publishers