Which Statement About Homologous Chromosomes is True

Question

Which statement about homologous chromosomes is true?
A) They include the two X chromosomes in a female.
B) They are duplicated chromosomes that have not yet been separated.
C) They contain completely different genes.
D) They include the X and Y chromosomes in a male.

Accepted Answer

Homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes that contain the same types of genes, although they may have different alleles (versions of the same gene). In a female, the two X chromosomes are homologous because they carry the same types of genes. The other options are incorrect: B) describes sister chromatids rather than homologous chromosomes, C) is false because homologous chromosomes do contain the same types of genes, and D) is incorrect because the X and Y chromosomes in a male are not homologous; they carry different sets of genes.