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DNA, RNA, Chromosomes, and Genes

Chromosomes

What are homologous chromosomes?

In diploid organisms, chromosomes occur in matching pairs, with the exception of the sex chromosomes. Not all organisms are diploid; for example, bacteria have only one circular chromosome, and some insects may have an odd number of chromosomes. Every human somatic cell (excluding egg or sperm cells) has forty-six chromosomes—twentytwo somatic chromosome pairs and one sex chromosome pair. The somatic chromosome pairs, called homologous chromosomes, carry the same sequence of genes for the same inherited characteristics.



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