adj.
Relating to or having large multistranded chromosomes whose corresponding chromomeres are in contact.
[POLY- + Latin taenia, band (from Greek tainiā, ribbon).]
polytenic pol'y·te'nic adj.polyteny pol'y·te'ny n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.