When observing a bird skin cell in G2 under a microscope, you count 160 total chromatids. How many chromosomes does a male chicken have in its sperm cells?
A) 320
B) 160
C) 80
D) 40

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The number of chromatids observed in the bird skin cell in G2 is double the number of chromosomes present in the cell's nucleus. Therefore, the bird skin cell has 80 chromosomes (160 chromatids/2 = 80 chromosomes). Since a male chicken's sperm cells are haploid, they contain half the number of chromosomes as the bird skin cell, which is 40 chromosomes (80 chromosomes/2 = 40 chromosomes). Therefore, the correct choice is D.

When Observing a Bird Skin Cell in G2 Under a Microscope