Homologous chromosomes are joined to each other or not?
1 Answer
Feb 19, 2018
Homologous chromosomes are not joined to each other.
Explanation:
Pairing of homologous chromosomes occur during meiosis-I, to form the bivalents.
The bivalents are 4-stranded structures at metaphase-I stage due to shortening and thickening of chromatids.
However, the segments of chromatids of 2 chromosomes of homologous pair get exchanged due to crossing over occurring during prophase-I of meiosis.
X-shaped structure or chiasma become visible at metaphase-I stage . At no stage of meiosis the two chromosomes of a homologous pair are joined.
Two chromosomes of a bivalent get separated from the chiasma during anaphase-I stage.
