Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A spindle-shaped cell characteristic of certain tumors.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word spindle cell.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
"To date, no neurological studies of the gray-whale brain have been done. In 2006, however, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine analyzed the brains of two other baleen species — humpback and finback whales — as well as those of a number of toothed whales like dolphins and killer and sperm whales. The study revealed brain structures surprisingly similar to our own. Some, in fact, contained large concentrations of spindle cells — often referred to as the cells that make us human because of their link to higher cognitive functions like self-awareness, a sense of compassion and linguistic expression — with the added kick that whales evolved these same highly specialized neurons as many as 15 million years before we humans did, a stunning instance of a phenomenon biologists refer to as parallel evolution."
"Watching Whales Watch Us," New York Times, here.
July 15, 2009
yarb commented on the word spindle cell
Parallel evolution? Or humans are descended from whales and dolphins??
July 15, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
As opposed to non-evolution, perhaps, rather than non-parallel. F&$%ed if I know. Neat article though.
July 15, 2009
yarb commented on the word spindle cell
Do you think humans might be descended from whales, c_b?
July 15, 2009
reesetee commented on the word spindle cell
I sometimes think we'd be smarter as a whole if we were. :-)
July 15, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
Well, given my pants issues of late, I have to admit it might be more fun to have a fluke.
July 15, 2009
seanahan commented on the word spindle cell
I think some people are descended from bears.
July 17, 2009
yarb commented on the word spindle cell
Right, sean. I think we all agree on that. But the point is that bears are descended from whales.
July 18, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
Bears definitely don't have flukes, yarb, plus how would you explain the existence of tappens, given the occasional bear pants issues? Did tappens evolve because of pants issues, or the other way around? Perhaps it was parallel... *cue spooky music*
July 18, 2009
yarb commented on the word spindle cell
I don't know. You're the expert on tappens.
July 18, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
But not the expert on bears evolving from whales? Harrumph. See marathon of phony umbrage taking. It's a valid question—the tappen, or the pants issues?
July 18, 2009
reesetee commented on the word spindle cell
I think we could all see that one coming.
July 18, 2009
pterodactyl commented on the word spindle cell
I think bears evolved from untonsured monks.
July 19, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
:) *still eating*
July 21, 2009
bilby commented on the word spindle cell
Maybe we could give her tonsures back for good behaviour.
July 21, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
As far as you know, they were never missing. That's why I wear this tiara.
July 21, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word spindle cell
P.S. two nights ago, I had a dream in which I started giving myself a tonsure with electric clippers, got tired of it partway through and stopped, fluffing the rest of my hair up around it and hoping no one would notice. Thanks, Wordie.
July 24, 2009