n. the final stage in the first prophase of *meiosis, in which homologous chromosomes, between which crossing over has occurred, are ready to separate.
n. the first stage of *mitosis and of each division of *meiosis, in which the chromosomes become visible under the microscope. The first prophase of meiosis occurs in five stages (see leptotene; zygotene; pachytene; diplotene; diakinesis).... prophase
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