Question

A diploid organism is heterozygous for four loci, how many types of gametes can be produced?

Answer 1

Locus:

1. Locus is a definite position on a chromosome, which is employed by a single or more gene.
2. Heterozygous organisms comprise different alleles for an allelic pair.
3. Therefore, a diploid organism, which is heterozygous at four loci, will have four different contrasting characters at four different loci.
4. For instance, if an organism is heterozygous at four loci with four characters, say Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, then during meiosis, it will segregate to form 8 separate gametes.
5. If the genes are not linked, then the diploid organism will produce 16 different gametes.
6. However, if the genes are linked, the gametes will reduce their number as the genes might be linked and the linked genes will be inherited together during the process of meiosis.
7. Thus, 16 gametes will be produced if a diploid organism is heterozygous for four loci.

Example:

If an entity is heterozygous at four loci with four different characters, such as Mm, Nn, Oo and Pp then while meiotic division they split to form 8 different gametes.