Prepare for the Clinical Genetics Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Achieve success on your exam!

Multiple Choice

During which stage do homologous chromosomes separate?

Homologous chromosomes separate during the first division of meiosis. In meiosis I, the paired homologs align and then segregate to opposite poles in anaphase I, reducing the chromosome number from diploid to haploid. The sister chromatids stay together and only separate later, in meiosis II (or in mitosis). Cytokinesis simply splits the cytoplasm after chromosome segregation. So the separation of homologs is a hallmark of the first meiotic division.

Homologous chromosomes separate during the first division of meiosis. In meiosis I, the paired homologs align and then segregate to opposite poles in anaphase I, reducing the chromosome number from diploid to haploid. The sister chromatids stay together and only separate later, in meiosis II (or in mitosis). Cytokinesis simply splits the cytoplasm after chromosome segregation. So the separation of homologs is a hallmark of the first meiotic division.