Which term describes the display of chromosome pairs arranged by size and shape?

• A. Chromatid
• B. Genotype
• C. Karyotype
• D. Cytoskeleton

Answer: (C)

The display described is a karyotype. A karyotype is produced by collecting cells, arresting them in metaphase, staining the chromosomes, and arranging them in order from largest to smallest, also noting the shape and banding patterns. This organized view allows us to compare homologous chromosome pairs and detect abnormalities such as extra or missing chromosomes or structural rearrangements. The other terms don’t fit this concept: a chromatid is one half of a replicated chromosome, genotype refers to the genetic makeup of alleles, and cytoskeleton is the cell’s internal framework.