Campbell Biology 11th Edition by Lisa Urry,Michael Cain,Steven Wasserman,Peter Minorsky,Jane Reece

Exercise 1

The Cavendish banana is the most popular fruit in the world, but is currently threatened by extinction due to a fungal agent (see the photo). This banana variety is "triploid" (3n, with three sets of chromosomes) and can only reproduce through cloning by cultivators. Given what you know about meiosis, explain how the banana's triploid number accounts for its seedless condition. Considering genetic diversity, discuss how the absence of sexual reproduction might contribute to the vulnerability of this domesticated species to infectious agents.