Answer:
38 chromosomes are in the red foxes DIPLOID skin cells
Step-by-step explanation:
There are two principal types of cells in the organism:
- Somatic diploid cells (2n) reproduce by the process of mitosis and produce two diploid cells.
- Germ diploid reproductive cells (2n) also reproduce by mitosis and produce two diploid cells. But can also reproduce by the process of meiosis, suffering a reduction in the number of chromosomes and producing four haploid cells (n).
Gametes are the product of germ cell division by meiosis, and they have only one set of chromosomes, n (19 in this example). Their destiny is to merge in the process of fecundation, during which a new diploid cell called the zygote emerges through fertilization. The zygote is a complete diploid cell that suffers successive mitosis and forms a new organism (a new fox in this case).
- So, through meiosis, the diploid germ cell (2n) produces four haploid cells (n) that are the gametes.
- Through fecundation or fertilization, two gametes (n) merge and produce a diploid cell (2n) that is the zygote.
If the red fox gamete has 19 chromosomes (haploid number n, the single set of chromosomes), it must merge with another gamete (coming from the other parent) with 19 chromosomes to form the zygote. The zygote is a diploid cell. The zygote will suffer many mitosis divisions to become a new fox.
To know the number of chromosomes in a skin cell, we need to duplicate the number of chromosomes in the gamete (19).
- N = 19 = Haploid number
- 2N = 2 x 19 = 38 = Diploid number