zygotenehttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zygotene_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezygotene, n.
First published 1986; not fully revised

zygotenenoun

Cytology.
  1. 1911–
    The second stage of the prophase of meiosis, following leptotene, during which homologous chromosomes begin to pair.
    1. 1911
      This view..goes on to show that after the last spermatogonial mitosis the chromosomes become very delicate slender threads, the leptotene condition..; these then approximate themselves parallel into pairs making the zygotene condition.
      Journal of Morphology vol. 22 752
    2. 1939
      The number of bivalents attached to the nucleolus at zygotene to diakinesis.
      Nature 8 July 81/1
    3. 1974
      At leptotene of meiotic prophase in many organisms, all the telomeres become gathered together and attached to a small area of the nuclear envelope, presumably so as to facilitate pairing during zygotene.
      Nature 9 August 469/2

zygotene, n. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zygotene, n. was last modified in July 2023.