Genes located on homologous chromosomes are called what?

• A. Allelic
• B. Loci
• C. Genetic Variants
• D. Homologous Genes

Answer: (A)

On each chromosome pair, genes sit at the same location, called a locus, on the two homologous chromosomes. The two copies of a gene at that locus can be different forms, known as alleles. When we talk about the gene copies on the homologous chromosomes as related versions of the same gene at the same locus, they are described as allelic. So these two gene copies are allelic because they are alternate forms of the same gene occupying the same position on each chromosome. Loci refers to the position itself, not the gene copies; genetic variants is a broader term, and homologous genes is not a standard way to describe this relationship.