Question

If members of two closely related species interbreed, what will be the outcome?

1) The offspring will have a similar gene and genome size but different chromosome numbers
2) The offspring will have a different gene and genome size but similar chromosome numbers
3) The offspring will have both similar gene and genome size as well as chromosome numbers
4) The offspring will have neither similar gene and genome size nor chromosome numbers

Answer 1

When members of two closely related species interbreed, the offspring will have a different gene and genome size but similar chromosome numbers.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two genes are located in close proximity on the same chromosome, they are considered linked, and their alleles tend to be transmitted through meiosis together. As the distance between two genes increases, the probability of crossovers between them increases, and the genes behave more like they are on separate chromosomes. Therefore, if members of two closely related species interbreed, the outcome would be that the offspring will have a different gene and genome size but similar chromosome numbers (option 2).