SEXIVALENT Meaning and
Definition
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Sexivalent is an adjective derived from the combination of two Latin words: "sex" meaning six and "valent" meaning having valency or combining power. In the field of genetics and biology, sexivalent refers to a specific characteristic exhibited by certain organisms during meiosis, the cell division process that leads to the production of gametes (reproductive cells). During meiosis, homologous chromosomes align and pair up, and this process is facilitated by a unique situation called synapsis.
A sexivalent, therefore, describes the state when six homologous chromosomes come together and link during meiosis. This phenomenon is commonly observed in organisms that naturally possess more than two copies of each chromosome, known as polyploids. Unlike normal diploid organisms that have two sets of chromosomes, polyploids have additional sets, which can lead to the formation of these sexivalents.
Sexivalents are of great interest to geneticists and reproductive biologists as they play a crucial role in the genetic recombination and distribution of chromosomes during meiosis. This process contributes to genetic diversity within a population and ultimately impacts the inheritance patterns in offspring. Detecting, analyzing, and understanding sexivalents is essential for studying the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis and gaining insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying reproductive processes in polyploid organisms.
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Having a combining power equal to six atoms of hydrogen.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SEXIVALENT
- aexivalent
- zexivalent
- xexivalent
- dexivalent
- eexivalent
- wexivalent
- swxivalent
- ssxivalent
- sdxivalent
- srxivalent
- s4xivalent
- s3xivalent
- sezivalent
- secivalent
- sedivalent
- sesivalent
- sexuvalent
- sexjvalent
- sexkvalent
- sexovalent
Etymology of SEXIVALENT
The word "sexivalent" originates from Latin and is a combination of the prefix "sex-" meaning "six", and the suffix "-valent" which is derived from the Latin word "valens" meaning "strong" or "powerful". In this context, "valent" refers to the valency or the combining capacity of chemical elements or compounds. Thus, "sexivalent" specifically refers to an element or compound that has a valency of six, meaning it can combine with or replace six atoms of hydrogen or other monovalent elements.
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