polytene

pol y tene |ˈpäləˌtēn ˈpɑlətin | ▶adjective Genetics relating to or denoting a giant chromosome that is composed of many parallel copies of the genetic material, as found in Drosophila fruit flies, where they are much used in genetic research. ORIGIN 1930s: from poly- ‘many ’ + -tene (from Greek tainia ‘band, ribbon ’) denoting stages of the first meiotic division.

polytene

polytene |ˈpɒlɪtiːn | ▶adjective Genetics 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. ORIGIN 1930s: from poly- ‘many ’ + -tene (from Greek tainia ‘band, ribbon ’) denoting stages of the first meiotic division.