synapsis

[ si-nap-sis ]

noun

, plural syn·ap·ses [si-, nap, -seez].

1. Also called syndesis. Cell Biology. the pairing of homologous chromosomes, one from each parent, during early meiosis.
2. Physiology. synapse.

synapsis

/ sɪˈnæpsɪs /

noun

1. cytology the association in pairs of homologous chromosomes at the start of meiosis
2. another word for synapse

Other Words From

• syn·ap·tic [si-, nap, -tik], syn·apti·cal adjective
• syn·apti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of synapsis¹

1645–55; < New Latin < Greek sýnapsis “junction,” equivalent to synap- (stem of synáptein “to make contact,” equivalent to syn- syn- + (h)áptein “to touch”) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of synapsis¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek sunapsis junction, from sunaptein to join together, from syn- + haptein to connect

Example Sentences

This photocurrent mimics the responses transmitted by synapsis in the human brain, enabling the device to interpret and process biological information received from optical sensors.

From Science Daily

Indeed, when synapsis was nearly complete, 70% of mo-2 sites had associated RPA2 foci.

From Nature

Both double-strand breaks and synapsis occur later at mo-2 arrays than at other chromosomal regions in spermatocytes.

From Nature

However, the group could trigger high-level break formation on mo-2 arrays by delaying synapsis.

From Nature

The authors therefore hypothesized that delayed synapsis might underlie the increased frequency of double-strand breaks at mo-2 arrays.

From Nature