Definition

A condition in which a cell contains polytene chromosomes, which are large chromosomes made up of many strands that have joined together.

Example

The study of polyteny revealed important insights into genetic expression in certain organisms.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of polyteny?

No, I haven't. What is it?

It's related to chromosomes that have multiple strands, making them quite unique.

That sounds interesting! I need to read more about genetics.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Polyteny → It is formed from "poly-" (from Greek "polus", meaning many) and "teny" (from Greek "tenus", meaning thread or filament). The word refers to the condition of having many threads, particularly in the context of chromosomes that have undergone replication, resulting in multiple copies of the same DNA strand.

Memory Tip

Think of 'many' ('poly-') threads or filaments ('teny') coming together, which helps you remember that polyteny refers to a condition with many strands.

Visually Confused Words