Concept explainers
To define:
The homologous chromosomes.
Introduction:
Chromosomes are the thread-like structures in the nucleus of a cell containing the genetic material in the form of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Each chromosome is made up of tightly packed DNA coiled around the histone proteins. Each cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes or 46 chromosomes. Homologous chromosomes are a pair of chromosomes that are similar, carry the same genetic information. One of the pairs is derived from mother (maternal) and the other one from the father (paternal).
Explanation of Solution
Homologous chromosomes can be defined as a set of 1 maternal and 1 paternal chromosome, which is paired up together in the cell during the meiosis. They are similar in the length, position of the centromere and have the same genes in the same loci, but, the alleles may be different. The first 22 pairs of the chromosomes (autosomes) in humans are homologous in nature. In the females, the 23rd pair is also homologous, as both are X chromosome, but in males, they are not homologous, as one of them is X and the other is Y.
Homologous chromosomes are very important in meiosis as they allow recombination and segregation of the genetic material from the parents to the offspring.
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