polytene

adj, noun — 2 senses

polytene

adj

Etymology From poly- + -tene.

1

Having very large chromosomes with many chromatids (arms).

Molecular biology

When this was done, it could be shown that the production of polytene chromosomes is not uniform for all chromosomes of a single nucleus, ie, some chromosomes are more polytene than others, […]1957, Carl P. Swanson, Cytology and Cytogenetics, page 300:

polytene

noun

Etymology From poly- + -tene.

1

A very large chromosome with many chromatids (arms); a chromosome exhibiting polyteny

Molecular biology

Unlike normal chromosomes, polytenes are visible in a microscope even when cell division is not taking place.2002, John Michael Barry, Molecular Embryology, →ISBN, page 91:

Derived terms: polytenization
Related terms: polytenic, polyteny

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.