leptotene

Term: leptotene

Literally meaning: “thin band”

Origin: Anc Greek

Λεπτός/leptos(=thin) > λέπω/lepo(=peel)

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

Leptotene is one of the stages of prophase I in which the chromosomes first become visible as fine threads and have not yet associated in pairs.