A particular ant species has four pairs of chromosomes. Identify the genetic possibilities from independent assortment of a gamete.

A. 256

B. 124

C. 16

D. 8

A. 256 it would be 4 to the fourth power

In this question, the ant has 4 pairs of chromosomes. Each pair of chromosomes will be separated in a gamete, resulting 4 unpaired chromosomes. That is why gamete is called haploid or n.

That means only 1 of the 2 chromosomes that will be carried into a gamete, assuming the gene heterozygote then there would be 2 possibilities. Since each chromosome pairs can produce 2 possibilities for each male or female, their interaction will result as (2x2) 4 possibilities.

Then for 4 chromosomes would be 4^4 possibilities = 256 possibilities of offspring