pachytene

pach·y·tene  (pk-tn)

n.

The third stage of the prophase of meiosis during which the homologous chromosomes become short and thick and divide into four distinct chromatids.

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[French pachytène : Greek pakhus, thick + French -tène, ribbon (from Latin taenia; see taenia).]

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pachytene [ˈpækɪˌtiːn]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) the third stage of the prophase of meiosis during which the chromosomes become shorter and thicker and divide into chromatids

[from Greek pakhus thick + tainia band]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

pachytene - the third stage of the prophase of meiosis prophase - the first stage of meiosis phase, stage - any distinct time period in a sequence of events; "we are in a transitional stage in which many former ideas must be revised or rejected"