What is the term for the micrograph showing chromosomes arranged by size?

• A. Karyotype
• B. Chromosome
• C. Genome
• D. Allele

Answer: (A)

The term for the micrograph showing chromosomes arranged by size is a karyotype. A karyotype is created from cells arrested in metaphase, chromosomes are stained and photographed, and then the chromosomes are ordered from largest to smallest, usually with homologous pairs lined up and the sex chromosomes last. This visual layout lets you see how many chromosomes are present and to spot large-scale abnormalities. The other terms refer to different things: a chromosome is a single DNA-containing structure, the genome is the entire set of genetic material in an organism, and an allele is a variant form of a gene. So this image is specifically called a karyotype because it represents the full chromosome set organized by size.