If the horse (Equus caballus) has 32 pairs of chromosomes, and the donkey (Equus asinus) has 31 pairs of chromosomes, then 63 chromosomes would be expected in the somatic tissue of a mule (progeny of a cross between a horse and donkey). A. TrueB. False

Question

Biology

Tess Branch

11 July, 14:11

If the horse (Equus caballus) has 32 pairs of chromosomes, and the donkey (Equus asinus) has 31 pairs of chromosomes, then 63 chromosomes would be expected in the somatic tissue of a mule (progeny of a cross between a horse and donkey). A. TrueB. False

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Michelle Walsh · Answer 1

True

Explanation:

During meiotic division involved in the formation of the gametes in organisms. The meiotic division reduces the number of chromosomes by half during gamete formation.

In the given question, Horse contains 32 pairs of chromosomes or 64 chromosomes and the donkey contains 31 pairs of chromosomes or 62 chromosomes.

The gametes of a horse through meiotic division will contain 32 chromosomes and gametes of a donkey through meiotic division will contain 31 chromosomes.

When these gametes will fuse then zygote will be formed with 32 + 31 = 63 chromosomes. Since the mule contains 63 chromosomes, therefore they are sterile organisms.

Thus, true is the correct answer.