polyteny

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noun

The presence within a cell of polytene chromosomes (large chromosomes with multiple synapsed chromatids)

Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounpolyteny (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemolecular biologyThe presence within a cell of polytene chromosomes (large chromosomes with multiple synapsed chromatids)

Origin

From polytene + -y.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

polyteny. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyteny

MLA

“polyteny.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyteny. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polyteny,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyteny.

Source: polyteny on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.