Self Assessment Answer # 4 for Lesson 4 by Dr Jamie Love 2002 - 2005

A "homologous pair of chromosomes" is a pair of chromosomes having the same overall composition and appearance. Their genetic material is very similar - although rarely identical. In a diploid organism each chromosome inherited from one parent is matched with an identical chromosome from the other parent and we represent them as "P" (for "paternal") and "M" (for "maternal").

We see the homologous pairs best at metaphase I (of meiosis I) because at that stage they are all lined up along the metaphase plate in tetrads.

By the way, we often use the word "homologs" rather than the clumsy expression "homologous pair of chromosomes". It's easier to say!

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