Zygotene

Locusta migratoriaLilium grandiflorumPetunia hybrida
meiosis: zygotene in Locusta
meiosis: zygotene in Lilium
meiosis: zygotene in Petunia.jpg
At zygotene (Gr. zygon = touching another), the stage after leptotene, the pairing of the homolog chromosomes (synapsis) begins. The homolog chromosomes are hold together by proteins (synaptomal complex). Next, crossing-over can happen between the DNA-double helices molecules of homolog chromosomes.

http://www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/virtuallessons/cellcycle/meiostage/zygotene/print/

last modified: 1 Oct 2011