Question

Select the inappropriate option:
The members of a homologous pair of chromosomes.
a) Are found only in haploid cells
b) Are identical in size and appearance
c) Contain identical genetic information
d) Separate and move to opposite poles of the cell during mitosis

Answer 1

Hint: Homologous pairs of chromosomes are the same in genetic combination and they look alike. As homologous means a pair of chromosomes which have the same genetic traits. Homologous chromosomes are inherited one from each parent and they are the same in location, centromere and size etc. Homologous pairs are also known as sister chromatids as they are inherited from each parent gene.

Complete Explanation:
Homologous pairs or sister chromatids are identical in size, are present in the same location, have the same genetic information but are not present in haploid cells. As haploid cells refer to the individual or single cell which later combines with another gene to form diploid or we call crossing over takes place of genes. Sister chromatids or homologous pairs are only found in diploid cells. And during the mitosis phase of the cell cycle they migrate towards the opposite poles or ends and there they further divide into new chromosomes.
Diploid nuclei contain pairs of homologous chromosomes while haploid only contain a single chromosome from each pair. Hence both haploid and diploid contain homologous pairs.
Homologous chromosomes have the same pattern of genes as well as the arrangement is also similar. In diploid nuclei, pairs of homologous chromosomes can be identified at the start of meiosis. One member of each pair comes from the female parent and another member from male parent.
In a simple way if we say, Humans are the perfect example of homologous chromosomes. As humans reproduce through sexual mode of reproduction where crossing over of chromosomes or genes takes place as a result one chromosome from father and another from mother is inherited into the offspring body. These chromosomes are carried in the haploid gamete cells, that is sperm and eggs.

So, option a) is the correct answer.

As we know that humans have \[22\] pair of chromosomes and a pair of sex chromosomes known as also sex cells.

Note:
As we knew about the homologous chromosomes and what it cannot contain besides from that it has two main properties also. The length of chromosomal arms and the placement of the centromere. The actual length of the arm according to gene locations is important for the proper alignment of chromosomes.