Question

Why is the pachytene stage referred to as the tetrad stage?

Answer 1

Pachytene:

1. The third stage of meiosis prophase-1 is called pachytene (a five-stage process).
2. The zygotene stage, in which synapsis, or the pairing of homologous chromosomes, occurs, comes before it.

Pachytene stage:

1. During the pachytene stage, homologous chromosome pairing is finished.
2. Chromosomes get much shorter and thicker as a result of repeated condensation.
3. As a result, each chromosome's sister chromatids become visible, revealing four strands on each bivalent.
4. As a result, the bivalent with four chromatids is known as tetravalent, and pachytene is frequently referred to as a tetrad stage.