Final answer:
The statement that homologous chromosomes have their centromeres attached to each other during G2 of the cell cycle is not accurate. Homologous chromosomes are characterized by crossing over during prophase I of meiosis, segregating to opposite poles during anaphase of meiosis I, and carrying alleles for the same genes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The property that is not a characteristic of homologous chromosomes is that 'Their centromeres are attached to each other during G2 of the cell cycle.' This statement is incorrect, as homologous chromosomes do not have their centromeres attached to each other at any stage; they remain separate entities until they pair up during prophase I of meiosis I.
Homologous chromosomes exhibit several key properties:
- They undergo the exchange of genes through crossing over during prophase I of meiosis, which results in new combinations of alleles.
- Durings anaphase I of meiosis, they segregate to opposite poles, ensuring that each gamete receives only one chromosome from each pair.
- They pair up physically during prophase I of meiosis I, allowing the process of recombination to take place.
- They carry alleles for the same genes at the same chromosomal positions, though the specific alleles may differ between the two chromosomes in a pair.
These properties are crucial for sexual reproduction as they contribute to genetic variation in offspring.