Definition

A substance that causes cells to divide and multiply.

Example

The scientist used a mitogen to stimulate cell growth in the laboratory.

Conversation

Did you hear about that new mitogen they discovered?

No, I haven't! What does it do?

It supposedly helps cells divide more efficiently during research.

That's fascinating! Science keeps getting more interesting.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mitogen is formed from "mito-" (from Greek "mitos", meaning thread) and "-gen" (from Greek "genes", meaning born of or produced by). The term refers to substances that stimulate the division of cells, particularly in relation to the threads of chromosomes during cell division.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mito-' as referring to the 'threads' of chromosomes and '-gen' meaning 'produced by' — so a mitogen is something that produces cell division by acting on those threads.

Visually Confused Words