Medical term:
prophase
prophase
[pro´fāz]the first stage of cell replication in either meiosis or mitosis.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
pro·phase
(prō'fāz),The first stage of mitosis or meiosis, consisting of linear contraction and increase in thickness of the chromosomes (each composed of two chromatids) accompanied by migration of the two daughter centrioles and their asters toward the poles of the cell. In meiosis, prophase is complex and can be subdivided into stages: preleptotene, leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene, and diakinesis.
[G. prophasis, from prophainō, to foreshadow]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
prophase
(prō′fāz′)n.
1. The first stage of mitosis, during which the chromosomes condense and become visible, the nuclear membrane breaks down, and the spindle apparatus forms at opposite poles of the cell.
2. The first stage of meiosis, constituted by a series of events that include the thickening and coiling of the chromosomes, synapsis of homologous chromosomes, tetrad formation, and crossing over.
pro·pha′sic (-fā′zĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
pro·phase
(prō'fāz)The first stage of mitosis or meiosis, consisting of linear contraction and increase in thickness of the chromosomes (each composed of two chromatids) accompanied by migration of the two daughter centrioles and their asters toward the poles of the cell.
[G. prophasis, from prophainō, to foreshadow]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
prophase
The first stage in cell division by MITOSIS and MEIOSIS, during which CHROMATIN coils up to form chromosomes.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
prophase
the first stage of nuclear division (MITOSIS and MEIOSIS) in which the chromosomes coil and thicken and become visible with the optical microscope, condensing onto the inner wall of the NUCLEAR MEMBRANE. As the stage proceeds, the NUCLEOLUS disappears from view and the nuclear membrane disintegrates, leaving a clear area at the edge of the nucleus which contains the CENTROSOME.Meiosis has a much more complicated prophase than mitosis, and can be summarized thus:
- (a) meiosis has two prophases, the first one complex (see below).the second rather similar to prophase in mitosis.
- (b) prophase 1 of meiosis can be divided into five substages: LEPTOTENE, ZYGOTENE, PACHYTENE, DIPLOTENE and DIAKINESIS. The essential processes occurring are: (i) pairing of homologous chromosomes, (ii) pairing of nonsister CHROMATIDS forming chiasmata with eventual CROSSING OVER.
Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
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