Final answer:
A newly discovered insect with 10 total chromosomes likely has 8 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes, with autosomes being the non-sex chromosomes that contain most genetic information.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a newly discovered insect in the rainforest is found to have 10 total chromosomes, the number of autosomes it has can be calculated considering that most organisms have pairs of chromosomes, with one of each pair coming from each parent. Typically, out of the total number of chromosomes, there are two sex chromosomes which determine the sex of the organism (XX for female and XY for male in many species, although insect sex determination can vary). The rest of the chromosomes are autosomes. Assuming this insect follows a similar pattern, it would likely have 8 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes.
Autosomes are the non-sex chromosomes and they contain the bulk of an organism's genes that determine characteristics other than sex-related traits. In mitosis, which is the cell division process that leads to growth and tissue repair, all of the chromosomes are duplicated, ensuring that each daughter cell has the same genetic information. In meiosis, which leads to the production of gametes (sperm and egg cells), the chromosome number is halved, so the offspring gets a mix of chromosomes from each parent.