Pachytene is the third stage of meiosis prophase-1 (a five-stage process). It is preceded by the zygotene stage, where synapsis, i.e. pairing of homologous chromosomes take place. ...
Third step of prophase I, pachytene (Greek meaning "thick") comes after synapsis is over. Chromatin has condensed enough that chromosomes can now be resolved in microscopy. Recombi...