What are identical copies of a replicated chromosome called?

Identical copies of a replicated chromosome are known as sister chromatids. This occurs during the S phase of the cell cycle when DNA replication takes place, resulting in two copies of each chromosome. Each sister chromatid contains an identical DNA sequence and is connected at a region called the centromere. During cell division, particularly in mitosis and meiosis, the sister chromatids are separated to ensure that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the genetic material.

The other terms presented do not describe identical copies of replicated chromosomes specifically. For example, homologous chromosomes refer to a pair of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent, that may have different versions of genes (alleles) at corresponding loci. Centrioles play a role in cell division but are not chromosomes themselves, and the term 'chromosomes' refers broadly to structures made of DNA and histones that carry genetic information, without specifying their replicated state. Understanding the role of sister chromatids is crucial for grasping how genetic information is accurately distributed during cell division.