homologous chromosomes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very High Proficiency)Technical / Academic / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “homologous chromosomes” mean?
A pair of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent, that have the same genes at the same loci (positions) and pair during meiosis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pair of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent, that have the same genes at the same loci (positions) and pair during meiosis.
In genetics, homologous chromosomes are matching chromosome pairs that contain the same gene sequences but may have different alleles (variants) of those genes. They are crucial for genetic recombination and inheritance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. Spelling of related terms may follow national conventions (e.g., 'meiosis' is the same, but 'colour' vs. 'color' in surrounding text).
Connotations
Identical; purely technical term with no regional connotative variation.
Frequency
Used with identical frequency in relevant scientific contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “homologous chromosomes” in a Sentence
Homologous chromosomes [verb: pair, separate, align, recombine].During [noun: meiosis, prophase I], homologous chromosomes [verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “homologous chromosomes” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The chromosomes homologise during zygotene.
- The process where chromosomes become homologous is called synapsis.
American English
- The chromosomes homologize during zygotene.
- The process where chromosomes become homologous is called synapsis.
adverb
British English
- The genes are arranged homologously on the paired chromosomes.
American English
- The genes are arranged homologously on the paired chromosomes.
adjective
British English
- The homologous nature of the chromosome pair was confirmed.
- They studied the homologous regions on the two chromosomes.
American English
- The homologous nature of the chromosome pair was confirmed.
- They studied the homologous regions on the two chromosomes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in biology, genetics, and life science textbooks, lectures, and research papers.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation outside of specific educational contexts.
Technical
Core terminology in genetics, cytology, and molecular biology laboratories and literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “homologous chromosomes”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “homologous chromosomes”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “homologous chromosomes”
- Using 'homogeneous chromosomes' (which means uniform/compositionally the same) instead of 'homologous'.
- Confusing 'homologous chromosomes' (from two parents) with 'sister chromatids' (copies of one chromosome).
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'homologouse chromosomes' or 'homologous chromosome' (when referring to the pair).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are not identical. They are structurally similar (same genes in the same order) but carry different alleles (variants) of those genes, one inherited from the mother and one from the father.
Homologous chromosomes are a pair, one from each parent. Sister chromatids are two identical copies of a single chromosome, produced by DNA replication and held together by a centromere.
Homologous chromosomes separate during anaphase I of meiosis. This reduces the chromosome number by half and is a key event in sexual reproduction.
No, only diploid organisms (which have two sets of chromosomes) have homologous chromosomes. Haploid organisms (like some fungi and algae) have only one set.
A pair of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent, that have the same genes at the same loci (positions) and pair during meiosis.
Homologous chromosomes is usually technical / academic / scientific in register.
Homologous chromosomes: in British English it is pronounced /həˌmɒləɡəs ˈkrəʊməsəʊmz/, and in American English it is pronounced /hoʊˈmɑːləɡəs ˈkroʊməsoʊmz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No idioms; the term is purely technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'HOMO' = 'SAME' (as in homogenised milk). Homologous chromosomes are the 'same' in structure and gene locations, but come from two different 'logos' (sources) — mum and dad.
Conceptual Metaphor
A matched pair of instruction manuals for building an organism, where each manual (chromosome) from parent A and parent B has the same chapter titles (genes) but slightly different instructions (alleles) in each chapter.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of homologous chromosomes?