Synizesis refers to a phenomenon sometimes observed in one of the subphases of

meiosis Meiosis (; , since it is a reductional division) is a special type of cell division of germ cells in sexually-reproducing organisms that produces the gametes, such as sperm or egg cells. It involves two rounds of division that ultimately resu ...

. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as a "synizetic knot", and contrasted with the chromosome "bouquet" more typically observed, is characterized by the localization of the meiotic

chromosomes A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells the most important of these proteins are ...

in a tight clump on one side of the nucleus. The term synizesis seems to have been coined by McClung in 1905. The synizetic knot (Synizesis) was later found to be a technical artifact induced by the feature of strong acidic fixatives used during that time (e.g.,

Flemming Flemming is a surname and a male given name referring, like the more common '' Fleming'', to an inhabitant (or descendant thereof) of Flanders,

's strong fixative) to precipitate the thread-like delicate chromosomes of the

Leptotene stage The leptotene stage, also known as the leptonema, is the first of five substages of prophase I in meiosis. The term ''leptonema'' derives from Greek words meaning "thin threads". A cell destined to become a gamete enters the leptotene stage after i ...

of first meiotic prophase into a dark staining knot.

References

Cellular processes {{cell-cycle-stub

See also

References