Which term describes the complete set of genetic material in an organism's cells, often used to describe pairs of chromosomes that carry genes for the same traits at corresponding loci?

Which term describes the complete set of genetic material in an organism's cells, often used to describe pairs of chromosomes that carry genes for the same traits at corresponding loci?

• A. Homologous chromosomes
• B. Chromosome
• C. Chromatids
• D. Chromatin

Answer: (A)

Homologous chromosomes are a pair of chromosomes that carry genes for the same traits at corresponding loci. They are similar in size, shape, and gene order, and each comes from a different parent. The genes at the same positions may have different versions (alleles), which is what allows genetic variation when organisms reproduce. This concept is distinct from a chromosome (a single DNA molecule), chromatids (the identical copies of a chromosome after replication), and chromatin (the DNA–protein complex that forms chromosomes). The genome refers to the complete set of genetic material in an organism, not just a single paired chromosome set.

Homologous chromosomes are a pair of chromosomes that carry genes for the same traits at corresponding loci. They are similar in size, shape, and gene order, and each comes from a different parent. The genes at the same positions may have different versions (alleles), which is what allows genetic variation when organisms reproduce. This concept is distinct from a chromosome (a single DNA molecule), chromatids (the identical copies of a chromosome after replication), and chromatin (the DNA–protein complex that forms chromosomes). The genome refers to the complete set of genetic material in an organism, not just a single paired chromosome set.