prophase

noun
pro·​phase | \ ˈprō-ˌfāz How to pronounce prophase (audio) \

Definition of prophase

1 : the initial stage of mitosis and of the mitotic division of meiosis characterized by the condensation of chromosomes consisting of two chromatids, disappearance of the nucleolus and nuclear membrane, and formation of mitotic spindle
2 : the initial stage of the first division of meiosis in which the chromosomes become visible, homologous pairs of chromosomes undergo synapsis and crossing over, chiasmata appear, chromosomes condense with homologues visible as tetrads, and the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear — compare diakinesis, diplotene, leptotene, pachytene, zygotene

Other Words from prophase

prophasic \ (ˌ)prō-​ˈfā-​zik How to pronounce prophasic (audio) \ adjective

First Known Use of prophase

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for prophase

International Scientific Vocabulary

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More Definitions for prophase

prophase

noun
pro·​phase | \ -ˌfāz How to pronounce prophase (audio) \

Medical Definition of prophase

1 : the initial stage of mitosis and of the mitotic division of meiosis characterized by the condensation of chromosomes consisting of two chromatids, disappearance of the nucleolus and nuclear membrane, and formation of the mitotic spindle
2 : the initial stage of the first division of meiosis in which the chromosomes become visible, homologous pairs of chromosomes undergo synapsis and crossing-over, chiasmata appear, chromosomes condense with homologues visible as tetrads, and the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear and which is divided into the five consecutive stages leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene, and diakinesis

Other Words from prophase

prophasic \ (ˈ)prō-​ˈfā-​zik How to pronounce prophasic (audio) \ adjective