prophase

noun

pro·​phase ˈprō-ˌfāz 

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

prophasic

(ˌ)prō-ˈfā-zik 

adjective

Examples of prophase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alfred Sturtevant's general understanding of the power of crossing over was not contingent upon knowing that in a physical sense this process occurs in the synaptonemal complex during prophase I of meoisis I). —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2013

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prophase

noun

pro·​phase ˈprō-ˌfāz 

1

: the first stage of mitosis or the second division of meiosis in which chromosomes become visible as tightly coiled threadlike structures

2

: the first stage of the first division of meiosis in which chromosomes become visible and pair with homologous chromosomes to undergo synapsis

Medical Definition

prophase

noun

pro·​phase -ˌfāz 

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

prophasic

(ˈ)prō-ˈfā-zik 

adjective