Question

In the animation, the rare white‑eyed males generated from offspring of true‑breeding red‑eyed females and white‑eyed males were the result of a nondisjunction of X chromosomes in the female during meiosis I. Could white‑eyed males be generated in this cross by a nondisjunction of X chromatids in the female during meiosis II? Why or why not? Yes, because a nondisjunction of X chromatids in meiosis II of a female will result in both white-eyed males and white-eyed females. No, if a nondisjunction of X chromatids occurred in meiosis II of a female, only white-eyed females could be generated. No, if a nondisjunction of X chromatids occurred in meiosis II of a female, all progeny would have red eyes. No, if a nondisjunction of X chromatids occurred in meiosis II of a female, none of the resulting offspring would be viable. Yes, because a nondisjunction of X chromatids in meiosis II of a female will generate two abnormal gametes, one with two X chromosomes and one with no X chromosome.

Answer 1

Yes, because a nondisjunction of X chromatids in meiosis II of a female will generate two abnormal gametes, one with two X chromosomes and one with no X chromosome.

Step-by-step explanation:

Non-disjunction occurs when the chromosomes are incorrectly distributed in the cell division.

The case shown in the question above is an example of non-disjunction in the X chromosome, which occurred during meiosis I. In this case, the rabbit offspring cells received two homologous X chromosomes that were not separated in the formation of their mothers' gametes ended up allowing the offspring to have white eyes.

However, the same result would occur if non-disjunction occurred in meiosis II, which would result in cells with excess X chromosome and cells lacking X chromosome. In that case, the mothers of the rabbits would generate two gametes one with two X chromosomes and one without X chromosomes.