Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
In a diploid organism, how many homologous chromosome pairs are present in a somatic cell?
A
46 pairs
B
23 pairs
C
1 pair
D
12 pairs
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that a diploid organism has two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.
Recognize that a somatic cell in a diploid organism contains the full set of chromosomes, which includes both sets from the parents.
Identify that homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes that have the same structure and gene sequence, one inherited from each parent.
In humans, the total number of chromosomes in a somatic cell is 46, which means there are 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes.
Conclude that the number of homologous chromosome pairs in a somatic cell of a diploid organism is equal to half the total number of chromosomes, which is 23 pairs in humans.