poikilo-, poikil-; poecilo-, poecil-

An form of life having an unequal number of chromosome sets in adjacent cells or tissues: A mixoploid is an an organism containing two or more populations of cells that differ in chromosome number.

The situation of existing as a mixoploid; Mixoploidy relates to the possession of two or more cell lines which differ in chromosome number.

A benign and abnormal hardening of a bone: Osteopoikilosis is characterized by the presence of numerous enostoses (an area of compact bone) in the skeletonbody part

Any fish in the Poeciliidae.family: A poeciliid is a small, brightlycolored fish that is born alive (not as being laid as an egg), and feeds on the surface of fresh or brackish water.

A metamorphic mineral consisting of little additions of the former rock: A poikiloblast is a crystal of a metamorphic rock which is defined by the inclusion of small idiopblasts.

In pathology, a red blood cell that is irregularly or abnormally shaped:: There are many kinds of poikilocytes, or erythrocytes, including burr cells and target cells.

In pathology, the condition of the presence of oddly shaped red blood cells: Jack was told by his doctor that he had a condition of poikilocytosis which could refer to an increase in the number of abnormalred blood cells of any shape in his blood.

A mottling or kind of discoloration of enamel of the teeth: Mr. Manning was surprised to learn from his dentist, Mr. Tooth, that he had a case of poikilodentosis due to the immoderate amount of fluoride in the water.

A deterioration of the skin characterized by a mottled or spotted pigment: At the dermatologist's, Lynn showed Dr. Tyler the area of her skin with the sprinkled pigment that had developed, and she was told that it was a condition of poikiloderma.

A rare disorder of the skin; poikalodermatomyositis; petge-syndrome: Dr. Smart told his students that poikilodermatonyositis was a very uncommon ailment or disease of the skin and skeletal muscles.

Referring to the amount of salinity in a liquid: Poikilohaline waters in lakes or along the coast consist of different salts, one of which is sodium.

The use of terms from several nomenclature systems: Mr. Word told his students that poikilonymy referred to a mixture of terms or names from various methods or forms of terminology

The means by which a cell or tissue adapts itself to the osmolarity of its fluid to that of its present surroundings: Mr. Green explained to his students that tissues, or cells, go through a process of poikilosmosis whereby they adjust to the.conditions of osmolarity of its fluid to that of its immediate environment.

A reference to a body fluid with an osmotic pressure that is like that of the encircling conditions: Many marine animals devoid of a backbone or notochord are poikilosmotic.