Question

What are homologous chromosomes? Name the stage of cell division in which paired homologous chromosomes get shortened & thickened. What happen to homologous chromosomes during meiosis?

Answer 1

Homologous chromosomes are the chromosomes which are similar but not identical. These are similar in length, gene position and centromere location. The stage in which paired homologous chromosomes get shortened and thickened is diplotene stage of Prophase1 of Meiosis 1. The homologous chromosomes undergo genetic recombination. The chromosomes reduce to homologous chromosomes in meiosis 1 and then to sister chromatids in meiosis 2. The homologous chromosomes first exchange their DNA in next phase they orient themselves randomly at the equator. Reduction division of homologus chromosomes takes place in meiosis.