Bivalent Chromosomes
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This 1930s encyclopedia article defines bivalent chromosomes as double-valued chromosomes formed during spermatogenesis and oogenesis at the onset of reduction division. They correspond to two somatic chromosomes, resulting in a haploid number, and typically form through the conjugation of paternal and maternal chromosomes.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
BIVALENT CHROMOSOMES (from the Latin bis twice and valere to be worth), otherwise double-valued chromosomes, are formed in the process of sperm- and oogenesis at the onset of reduction division and each correspond to two chromosomes of somatic cells, with their number being half the usual, i.e., haploid. According to the opinion of the majority, they arise by the pairwise union of paternal and maternal chromosomes (conjugation). After the separation of each of the components, bivalent chromosomes form the so-called tetrads (see Reduction division).
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“Bivalent Chromosomes.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/bivalent-chromosomes/