Question

A horse has 64 chromosomes and a donkey has 62. Mules result from crossing a horse and donkey. State which of the following statement is incorrect?

• A. Mules can have either 64, 63 or 62 chromosomes.
• B. Mules are infertile.
• C. Mules have well defined gender (male/female).
• D. Mules have 63 chromosomes.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Mules can have either 64, 63 or 62 chromosomes.

A mule is the hybrid of a male donkey and a female horse. Since horse and donkey are different species, therefore mules are infertile in nature i.e. they do not have the capability to reproduce. But they do follow the laws of inheritance.

A horse has 64 chromosomes and a donkey possess 62 chromosomes, thereby passing 32 and 31 chromosomes respectively to the mule. Thus mule possesses a fixed number of chromosomes i.e. 32 + 31 = 63 chromosomes.

So, the correct option is 'Mules can have either 64, 63 or 62 chromosomes'.