Main Entry: pachy·tene

Pronunciation: \ˈpa-ki-ˌtēn\

Function: noun

Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary pachy- (from Greek pachys) + -tene

Date: 1912

: the stage of meiotic prophase that immediately follows the zygotene and that is characterized by paired chromosomes thickened and visibly divided into chromatids and by the occurrence of crossing-over

— pachytene adjective