Final answer:
The student should consider the impact of nondisjunction during meiosis on offspring, resulting in questions about the survivability and phenotype of triploid offspring, which have an additional set of chromosomes.
Therefore the correct answer is option B. If a gamete forms without segregation of chromosomes, will a triploid offspring survive?
Step-by-step explanation:
A student hypothesizes that failure for chromosomes to segregate during meiosis might impact the phenotype of the resulting offspring if those gametes are fertilized. The most relevant question for the student to ask about the outcome of a lack of segregation of chromosomes would likely be, "If a gamete forms without segregation of chromosomes, will a triploid offspring survive?" This question addresses the consequence of an error in meiosis known as nondisjunction, which can lead to gametes with an abnormal number of chromosomes. If such a gamete joins with another during fertilization, it could result in a triploid offspring, which is when the offspring inherits an additional set of chromosomes, making it 3N instead of the normal 2N (diploid).
Nondisjunction can occur during either meiosis I or meiosis II, leading to different outcomes regarding the chromosomal makeup of the gametes. A failure in chromosomal segregation can have dramatic effects on the viability and phenotype of the offspring. For example, conditions such as Down syndrome result from an extra chromosome 21, which is due to nondisjunction during gamete formation. The student should consider the impact of such chromosomal imbalances when considering the survivability and development of triploid or other aneuploid offspring.