The diagram shows the karyotypes of a body cell for a male and a female fruit fly - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 6
The diagram shows the karyotypes of a body cell for a male and a female fruit fly.
How many chromosomes will the egg of a female fruit fly have?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The diagram shows the karyotypes of a body cell for a male and a female fruit fly - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
How many chromosomes will the egg of a female fruit fly have?
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Answer
To determine the number of chromosomes in the egg of a female fruit fly, we can refer to basic genetics. In fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), the diploid number of chromosomes is typically 8 (4 pairs). Considering that eggs (oocytes) are produced through meiosis, they will contain half of the diploid number. Therefore:
Diploid number of chromosomes (2N) in fruit flies: 8
Haploid number of chromosomes (N) in the egg: 8 / 2 = 4
Thus, the egg of a female fruit fly will have 4 chromosomes (Option B).