The stage of prophase in meiosis in which precise point for point pairing of homologous chromosomes begins. SYN: zygonema. [zygo- + G. tainia (L. taenia), band]
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zy·go·tene 'zī-gə-.tēn n the stage of meiotic prophase which immediately follows the leptotene and during which synapsis of homologous chromosomes occurs
zygotene adj
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n.
the second stage of the first prophase of meiosis, in which the homologous chromosomes form pairs (bivalents).
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zy·go·tene (ziґgo-tēn) [Gr. zygōtos yoked together] the second stage of prophase in meiosis I, during which homologous chromosomes begin to pair off by the process of synapsis.Medical dictionary. 2011.