Homologous chromosome

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Homologous Chromosome

Homologous chromosomes (pronunciation: ho·mo·lo·gous chro·mo·some, /həˈmäləɡəs ˈkrōməˌsōm/) are a pair of chromosomes, one from each parent, that have the same length, gene position, and centromere location.

Etymology

The term "homologous" is derived from the Greek words "homos" meaning "same" and "logos" meaning "relation". The term "chromosome" comes from the Greek words "chroma" meaning "color" and "soma" meaning "body".

Description

Homologous chromosomes carry the same sequence of genes but not necessarily the same alleles of those genes. They pair up with each other inside a cell during meiosis, a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half. This pairing (synapsis) is necessary for the equal segregation of the chromosomes in the meiosis process.

Related Terms

  • Allele: One of two or more versions of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome.
  • Gene: The basic physical and functional unit of heredity.
  • Meiosis: A type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells.
  • Chromosome: A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

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