Final answer:
Homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids are structures involved in cell division. Homologous chromosomes have the same genes but can have different alleles, while sister chromatids are identical copies of a single chromosome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids are both structures that play a role in cell division, specifically in meiosis. However, they differ in several ways.
Homologous chromosomes:
- Homologous chromosomes are a pair of chromosomes that have the same genes in the same order.
- They are not identical because they can have different alleles, which are alternate forms of genes.
- Homologous chromosomes are inherited from each parent, and they replicate and align during prophase I of meiosis, allowing for crossing over and genetic recombination.
Sister chromatids:
- Sister chromatids are duplicated copies of a single chromosome that are attached to each other at the centromere.
- They are formed during DNA replication and are held together until they separate during cell division.
- During meiosis, sister chromatids separate in the second division (meiosis II), resulting in the formation of four haploid cells.
In summary, homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes with the same genes but potentially different alleles, while sister chromatids are identical copies of a single chromosome that separate during cell division.