A species that has three pairs of homologous chromosomes can have how many different combinations of chromosomes in the gametes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each pair of homologous chromosomes can separate independently during meiosis, resulting in 2² = 4 possible combinations per pair. With three pairs of homologous chromosomes, there are 4^3 = 64 possible combinations, but the question asks for the number of different combinations in the gametes, which is half that number (since gametes have only one set of chromosomes). Therefore, the correct answer is 4^3 ÷ 2 = 8.

A Species That Has Three Pairs of Homologous Chromosomes Can