What does lysed mean?
Lysed is the past tense and past participle of lyse, a verb principally used in biology, biochemistry, medicine, and laboratory science. To lyse a cell is to disrupt its membrane so that the cell ruptures and its contents are released; similarly, a cell described as lysed has undergone that breakdown. The word comes from the same Greek root as lysis, a loosening or dissolution, and is especially associated with techniques in which enzymes, detergents, chemicals, or physical processes deliberately destroy cell membranes. For example, a detergent may lyse cells so that researchers can isolate DNA or analyze cellular proteins. In less technical historical usage, lyse could mean to soften or dissolve a substance by soaking it. Today, however, lysed is most strongly associated with cells and with the controlled disruption of biological material. Its precise technical meaning makes it common in scientific reports and laboratory discussion but comparatively unusual in everyday speech.
verbPast tense and past participle of lyse. In biological and biochemical contexts, it means to cause the rupture or dissolution of cells, or to undergo this process.
- To cause the rupture or dissolution of a cell or its membrane.
- To undergo lysis, especially a cell whose membrane has been damaged or broken.
"The detergent lysed the cell membranes, releasing the proteins for analysis."
"The freezing protocol lysed the cells and released their genetic material."
"Under the microscope, the damaged cells lysed within minutes."
When a cell is lysed, its carefully built membrane is breached and its contents spill out—a controlled demolition that scientists use to recover what was inside.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lysed come from?
The word comes from Greek lysis, meaning a loosening or dissolution, which is related to lyein, "to loosen." The modern verb lyse was developed in scientific usage from this root, and lysed is its past tense and past participle. Other English words sharing the root include lysis, lysosome, lysergic, and lysozyme.
Related word forms
How lysed is actually used
Chiefly used in biology, biochemistry, medicine, and laboratory contexts. It may be transitive, as in "the detergent lysed the cells," or intransitive, as in "the cells lysed." The word is technical and is uncommon in general conversation.
Easily confused with lysed
Lysis is the noun naming the process of cell rupture or dissolution, whereas lysed is a past-tense verb form describing the completion of that process.