noun
- Plural of polyteny; the condition in which chromosomes undergo repeated rounds of DNA replication without cell division, resulting in giant chromosomes with many parallel strands.
Usage: biology; genetics; technical term
Examples
- Polytene chromosomes in Drosophila salivary glands exhibit polytenies that make them ideal for cytogenetic studies.
- The polytenies observed in certain insect tissues allow researchers to visualize gene expression patterns directly.
- Scientists use polytenies to map genes because the enlarged chromosomes are easier to examine under a microscope.