spireme

American  

[spahy-reem] / ˈspaɪ rim /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. the threadlike chromatin of a cell nucleus, present during early meiosis or mitosis.

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spireme British  

/ ˈspaɪriːm /

noun

1. cytology the tangled mass of chromatin threads into which the nucleus of a cell is resolved at the start of mitosis

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Etymology

Origin of spireme

1885–90; < Greek speírēma coil, equivalent to speirē-, variant stem of speirâsthai to be coiled around + -ma noun suffix of result

Example Sentences

At first it is quite small, and it gradually increases in size during the spireme stage.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part I by Stevens, Nettie Maria

First spermatocyte, spireme stage, showing the unequal pair associated with a large plasmosome.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria

As in most of the other species of Coleoptera, the unequal pair is not distinguishable until the spireme stage.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria

Giant spermatocyte, spireme stage, heterochromosome group double the usual size.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria

Here we have again a continuous spireme connected with the element x, making it seem improbable that the bivalent chromosomes are really separated in the bouquet stage.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part I by Stevens, Nettie Maria