diplotene

Term: diplotene

Literally meaning: “double  bands”

Origin: Anc Greek

διπλός/diplos( =duplex) > δι-/di-(=prefix meaning twice) > δις/dis(=two, double)

ταινία/taenia(=band, ribon)> τανύω/tanyo(=strain)

Coined/History

In 1912 by The Belgian cytologist and gynecologist  Hans von Winiwarter (1875-1949) who had an interest in the nature of gender determination, reported from his studies of fetal ovaries that the human diploid chromosome number was probably 48. 

Definition

Diplotene is one of the stages of prophase I in which each homologous chromosome pair have separated from one another except at chiasmata.