Synizesis (biology)

Synizesis refers to a phenomenon sometimes observed in one of the subphases of meiosis. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as a "synizetic knot", and contrasted with the chromosome "bouquet" more typically observed, is characterized by the localization of the meiotic chromosomes in a tight clump on one side of the nucleus. The term synizesis seems to have been coined by Clarence Erwin McClung in 1905.^[1]

The synizetic knot (Synizesis) was later found to be a technical artifact induced by the feature of strong acidic fixatives used during that time (e.g., Flemming's strong fixative) to precipitate the thread-like delicate chromosomes of the Leptotene stage of first meiotic prophase into a dark staining knot.^[2][3]

References

1. McClung, CE (1905). "The chromosome complex of orthopteran spermatocytes". The Biological Bulletin. 9 (5): 304–340. doi:10.2307/1535568. JSTOR 1535568.
2. Belar, K (1928). "Chromosomenreduktion. Die cytologischen Grundlagen der Vererbung". Handbuch der Vererbungswissenschaft. 1: 168–201.
3. Scherthan, H (2001). "A bouquet makes ends meet". Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2 (8): 623. doi:10.1038/35085086. PMID 11483995. S2CID 32376282.