zygotene

[ zahy-guh-teen, zig-uh- ]
/ ˈzaɪ gəˌtin, ˈzɪg ə- /

noun Cell Biology.

the second stage of prophase in meiosis, during which strands of homologous chromosomes line up and become pairs.

Origin of zygotene

1925–30; < French zygotène; see zygo-, -tene

Words nearby zygotene

zygosis, zygosity, zygosporangium, zygospore, zygote, zygotene, zygotic, zymase, zyme, zymo-, zymodeme

British Dictionary definitions for zygotene

zygotene
/ (ˈzaɪɡəˌtiːn, ˈzɪɡ-) /

noun

the second stage of the prophase of meiosis, during which homologous chromosomes become associated in pairs (bivalents)

Medical definitions for zygotene

zygotene
[ zī′gə-tēn′ ]

n.

The stage of meiotic prophase during which the precise point-for-point pairing of the homologous chromosomes begins. zygonema