An individual or cell of a specified type.
Greek ont‑, being, the present participle of eimi, be.
A schizont (Greek skhizein, to split) is a cell that divides by schizogony, asexual reproduction by multiple fission, to form daughter cells; a haplont (Greek haploos, single) has a life cycle in which the main form is haploid, with a diploid zygote being formed only briefly, as opposed to a diplont (Greek diplous, double), in which the main form, except for the gametes, is diploid.
Copyright © Michael Quinion 2008–. All rights reserved. Your comments are very welcome.