A triploid cell contains three sets of chromosomes. If a cell of a usually diploid species with 42 chromosomes per cell is triploid, this cell would be expected to have which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A triploid cell will have three sets of chromosomes, so a diploid cell with 42 chromosomes would have 3 x 42 = 126 chromosomes in a triploid cell. Option B, 63 chromosomes in 21 sets of 3, is the correct answer because it reflects the correct number of chromosomes (63) and the fact that they are grouped in sets of three, which is characteristic of triploid cells. The other options are incorrect: A) 63 chromosomes in 31 1/2 pairs is incorrect because there are no half chromosome pairs, B) 63 chromosomes, each with three chromatids is incorrect because it suggests that each chromosome has three sets of genes, but this is not the case, and D) 21 chromosome pairs and 21 unique chromosomes is incorrect because it does not take into account that each of the three sets will have the same chromosomes.

A Triploid Cell Contains Three Sets of Chromosomes