polytene

Definitions


[ˈpɒlɪtiːn], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- relating to or denoting a giant chromosome which is composed of many parallel copies of the genetic material, as found in Drosophila fruit flies where they are much used in genetic research


Phrases:

Origin:
1930s: from poly- ‘many’ + -tene (from Greek tainia ‘band, ribbon’) denoting stages of the first meiotic division




definition by Oxford Dictionaries