Question

g Explain the meaning of ploidy (haploid, diploid, aneuploid etc.) and how it relates to the number of homologues of each chromosome

Answer 1

Ploidy refers to the number of sets of chromosomes within a cell, with haploid cells having one set (gametes) and diploid cells having two sets (somatic cells). The homologous chromosomes in diploid cells carry the same genes in the same locations but may have different alleles. Aneuploidy is the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes, which can lead to developmental issues.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of ploidy relates to the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell. For example, haploid cells, denoted as n, have one set of chromosomes and are typically found in gametes (sperm and eggs). Diploid cells, represented as 2n, have two sets of homologous chromosomes, one inherited from each parent. These are the somatic or body cells in organisms. A diploid zygote is formed when a haploid sperm and a haploid egg combine during fertilization. Additionally, some organisms may have cells with more than two sets of chromosomes, known as polyploid cells, common in certain crop plants. On the other hand, cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes, a condition called aneuploidy, do not have the typical set numbers and often lead to developmental disorders.

Haploid and diploid states are key in the process of sexual reproduction, ensuring genetic diversity and proper distribution of genetic material. Meiosis is the cellular division process that produces haploid gametes from a diploid cell. During meiosis, the homologous chromosomes are separated, resulting in gametes with half the number of chromosomes compared to the original diploid cell. Each homologous chromosome contains the same genes, which can have different alleles, thereby contributing to genetic variability.

Answer 2

The correct answer is - Ploidy is the number of sets of chromosomes in a biological cell.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ploidy is the number of sets of the chromosome in a living cell. Ploidy is known for different condition such as haploid, diploid, and aneuploid, and many more depends how many homologues chromosome numbers are present in the cell.

Diploid cells are common in many organisms where one chromosome come from the mother gamete and the other from the father gamete and makes the homologues chromosomes. In diploid homologues, chromosome are 2n where n is the number of homologues of each chromosome.

In haploid there is only one set of each chromosome and mainly takes place by meiosis. In aneuploidy is the condition where the number of homologues chromosomes are not as the normal genome of the organism for example in humans instead of 46 chromosomes there 45 or 47 chromosome found.