Question

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

Answer 1

The total number of possibilities for four chromosomes would be 4^4 = 256 possibilities in the gamete or offspring.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given,

Organism – Ant species

Number of chromosomes = 4 pairs

Genetic possibility due to independent assortment = ?

Solution:

During the gamete formation, only one chromosome from a pair foes to the gamete as meiosis occurs. Therefore, the gamete will have only 4 chromosomes instead of 4 pairs. The gamete can get any of the two chromosome from a pair and thus, it has 2X2 = 4 possibilities.

Therefore, total number of possibilities for four chromosomes would be 4^4 = 256 possibilities in the gamete or offspring.

Answer 2

Here, no of pairs of chromosomes in ant = 4.

Now during the gametogenesis, each pair of chromosome will get separated in one gamete each.

So, number of unpaired chromosomes = 4 unpaired chromosomes.

The gametes are now haploid, i.e. Without paired chromosomes.

Now, only 1 of the one pair of chromosomes will be carried inside a gamete,

Lets assume, the gene present in the cell chromosomes is heterozygote

So, there will be 2 possibilities.

So, their probability will result as
`=2*2= 4`possibilities.

Then for 4 chromosomes would be
`4^4=256` chromosomes.