pachytene

American

[pak-i-teen] / ˈpæk ɪ tin /

Also pachynema

noun

Cell Biology.

the third stage of prophase in meiosis, during which each chromosome pair separates into sister chromatids with some breakage and crossing over of genes.

pachytene British

/ ˈpækɪˌtiːn /

noun

the third stage of the prophase of meiosis during which the chromosomes become shorter and thicker and divide into chromatids

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pachytene

< French pachytène (1900), equivalent to Greek pachý ( s ) thick + -tène -tene

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

HSF5 is required for progression beyond the pachytene stage during spermatogenesis, guiding the meiotic program towards completion and activating genes associated with sperm formation.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023