CHIASMA


Meaning of CHIASMA in English

— chiasmal, chiasmic, chiasmatic /kuy'az mat"ik/ , adj.

/kuy az"meuh/ , n. , pl. chiasmas, chiasmata /-meuh teuh/ .

1. Anat. a crossing or decussation, as that of the optic nerves at the base of the brain.

2. Cell Biol. a point of overlap of paired chromatids at which fusion and exchange of genetic material take place during prophase of meiosis.

Also, chiasm /kuy"az euhm/ .

[ 1830-40; chi CHI 1 + -asma n. suffix ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .