Heterokaryon

This can occur naturally, such as in the mycelium of fungi during sexual reproduction, or artificially as formed by the experimental fusion of two genetically different cells, as e.g., in hybridoma technology.

[citation needed] The term was coined in 1965, independently by B. Ephrussi and M. Weiss, by H. Harris and J. F. Watkins, and by Y. Okada and F.

[citation needed] Heterokaryons are found in the life cycle of yeasts, for example Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a genetic model organism.

Both exist in a single cell at the same time and carry out different functions with distinct cytological and biochemical properties.

These nuclei do not immediately fuse, and remain haploid in a n+n state until the very onset of meiosis: this phenomenon is called delayed karyogamy.