What are homologous chromosomes?

Homologous chromosomes are two chromosomes of the same length and centromere position observed during metaphase of mitosis, or paired chromosomes during meiosis. At different stages, homologous chromosomes may exhibit different forms. One chromosome in a homologous pair is inherited from the father, and the other from the mother; they are identical in shape, size, and structure. Homologous chromosomes are a concept in genetics, and whether in animals or plants, different species exhibit chromosomal differences that help distinguish between species and different genes.