Question

In honeybees, females are (i) having (ii) chromosomes and males are (iii) having (iv) chromosomes.

• A. (i) Diploid, (ii) 46, (iii) Haploid, (iv) - 23
• B. (i) Haploid, (ii) 23, (iii) Diploid, (iv) - 46
• C. (i) Diploid, (ii) 32, (iii) Haploid, (iv) - 16
• D. (i) Haploid, (ii) 16, (iii) Diploid, (iv) - 32

Answer 1

The correct option is C (i) Diploid, (ii) 32, (iii) Haploid, (iv) - 16

The sex determination in honeybees is based on the number of sets of chromosomes an individual receives. An offspring formed from the union of a sperm and an egg develops as a female (queen or worker), and an unfertilised egg develops as a male (drone) by means of parthenogenesis. This means that the males have half the number of chromosomes than that of a female. The females are diploid having 32 chromosomes and males are haploid, i.e., having 16 chromosomes. This is called haplodiploid sex-determination system and has special characteristic features such as the males produce sperms by mitosis, they do not have a father and thus cannot have sons, but have a grandfather and can have grandsons.

So, the correct answer is '(i) Diploid, (ii) 32, (iii) Haploid, (iv) - 16'