Zygotene (Noun)
Meaning
The second stage of the prophase of meiosis.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- During the zygotene stage, homologous chromosomes begin to pair up through a process called synapsis, resulting in a higher-order structure.
- The zygotene stage is a critical point in meiosis, as it is during this time that the homologous chromosomes align and prepare for crossing over.
- As the zygotene stage progresses, the chromosomes become increasingly intertwined and the formation of the synaptonemal complex is complete.
- The zygotene stage of prophase I is characterized by the pairing of homologous chromosomes, a necessary step for proper chromosome segregation during meiosis.
- Paired homologous chromosomes formed during the zygotene stage will go on to participate in crossing over and the separation of genetic material during subsequent stages of meiosis.