Question

In a certain taxon of insects some have 17 chromosomes and the others have 18 chromosomes. The 17 and 18 chromosome bearing organisms are:

• A. all males
  
• B. males and females, respectively
  
• C. all females
• D. females and males, respectively
  

Answer 1

The correct option is B males and females, respectively


Sex chromosomes

Sex chromosomes are a specific pair of chromosomes representing the sex of an individual.

Dissimilar sex chromosomes

Dissimilar sex chromosomes are found in the following conditions as follows:

• XX/XY
• XX/XO
• ZW/ZZ

Sex determination method - XX/XO

In the XX/XO sex determination method found in some insects, the males are represented by XO and female as XX. Males have only one X chromosome besides the autosomes whereas females have a pair of X chromosomes besides the autosomes. The 17 and 18 chromosome-bearing organisms are males and females respectively.

Final answer
a. males and females, respectively