neurospora

noun

neu·​ros·​po·​ra nu̇-ˈrä-sp(ə-)rə 

nyu̇-

: any of a genus (Neurospora of the family Sordariaceae) of ascomycetous fungi which are used extensively in genetic research and have black perithecia and persistent asci and some of which have salmon-pink or orange spore masses and are severe pests in bakeries

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, from neuro- neuro- + -spora -spora; probably so called from the striations on the spores

Note: Taxon introduced by the American mycologists Cornelius Lott Shear (1865-1956) and Bernard Ogilvie Dodge (1872-1960) in "Life Histories and Heterothallism of the Red Bread-Mold Fungi of the Monilia sitophila Group," Journal of Agricultural Research, vol. 34, no. 11 (June 1, 1927), pp. 1019-42.

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

neurospora

noun

neu·​ros·​po·​ra n(y)u̇-ˈräs-pə-rə 

: any of a genus of fungi that often have pink spores, are important in genetic research, and are severe pests in bakeries

Medical Definition

neurospora

noun

neu·​ros·​po·​ra n(y)u̇-ˈräs-pə-rə 

1

capitalized : a genus (family Sphaeriaceae) of ascomycetous fungi which are used extensively in genetic research and have black perithecia and persistent asci and some of which have salmon pink or orange spore masses and are severe pests in bakeries

2

: any ascomycetous fungus of the genus Neurospora