leptotene

9.9

The first stage of cell division that makes egg or sperm cells when chromosomes shorten and thicken

noun
/ˈlɛp.təˌtiːn/

Specialized

: leptoteno

The transition from leptotene to zygotene is marked by the pairing of homologous chromosomes.

Examples

During the leptotene stage, chromosomes start to condense and are visible under a microscope.
The leptotene stage is the initial phase of prophase in meiosis when chromosomes first begin to become visible.
Researchers observed defects in meiotic division during the leptotene phase of cell development.
During leptotene, chromosomes start to condense.
The leptotene stage is crucial for meiosis.
During the leptotene stage, chromosomes begin to condense into visible thin threads under a microscope.
Researchers observed that during the leptotene phase, chromosomes became clearly visible as they started to condense.

Surface Forms

leptotene singular

leptotenes plural

Morphology

leptotene = lepto + tene

A specialised biological term built from Greek combining forms ('lepto-' + '-tene'); the components are not productive standalone English words and the meaning is domain-specific, so ordinary learners cannot derive the sense from the parts.

Etymology

Leptotene comes from the Greek root lepto- meaning 'thin', and it was named because chromosomes look like very thin threads in this early stage of meiosis, so the name helps you remember their thread-like appearance.