Question

With the help of a chart, explain the method of sex determination in honeybees.

Answer 1

(1) In honeybee, sex can be determined by haplodiploid sex determination system. Sex is determined by the number of sets of chromosomes received by an individual. The egg which is fertilized by sperm, becomes diploid and develops into female and unfertilized egg develops into male by parthenogenesis. The queen and worker bee therefore contain 32 chromosomes. The drone i.e., male bears 16 chromosomes. The sperms are produced by mitosis while eggs are produced by meiosis.