The two chromosomes in a homologous pair are very similar to one another and have the same size and shape. Most importantly, they carry the same type of genetic information: that is, they have the same genes in the same locations.

Subsequently, question is, are pairs of chromosomes identical? The DNA sequences of homologous chromosomes are usually not exactly identical. The nuclei of most human cells contain 46 chromosomes. These 46 chromosomes consist of 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes, or homologs, meaning each of these pairs are alike, but not necessarily identical.

Also, how are the members of a homologous pair similar and different?

A homologous pair of chromosomes is composed of two chromosomes that are similar in size, centromere location, and banding pattern. They carry the same sequence of genes (but not necessarily the same alleles) for the same traits. Each member of a homologous pair comes from a different parent.

How can the two chromosomes that make up a homologous pair differ?

homologous means both of them have same genes in the same order but the actual sequences at some gene loci are slightly different, they are alleles. the two chromosomes that make up a homologous pair differ as they can contain different alleles for the same trait.