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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2013
Dictionary Entries Near prophase
Cite this Entry
“Prophase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prophase. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share