Chapter 10.3, Problem 5MI

Summary Introduction

To calculate:

Number of chromosome combinations due to independent assortment by completing the given chart

Introduction:

The main advantage of sexual reproduction is that it produces genetic variation in species. Genetic variation helps species survive better in adverse conditions. Both crossing over and independent assortment contribute to the amount of genetic recombination in a particular species. The possible combinations of genes due to independent assortment can be calculated using the formula 2ⁿ, where n is the number of chromosomes pairs.

Answer to Problem 5MI

Species	Chromosome number (n)	Possible combinations
Pea	7	$2^7=128$
Housefly	6	$2^6=64$
Cabbage	9	$2^9=512$
Fruit fly	4	$2^4=16$
Frog	13	$2^{13}=8192$

Explanation of Solution

The possible combinations of genes due to independent assortment can be calculated using the formula 2ⁿ, where n is the number of chromosomes pairs.

Pea has seven pairs of chromosomes. So $\text{n=7}$

Number of chromosome combinations due to independent assortment is $2^7=128$

The housefly has six pairs of chromosomes. So $\text{n=6}$

Number of chromosome combinations due to independent assortment is $2^6=64$

Cabbage has nine pairs of chromosomes. So $\text{n=9}$

Number of chromosome combinations due to independent assortment is $2^9=512$

The fruit fly has four pairs of chromosomes. So $\text{n=4}$

Number of chromosome combinations due to independent assortment is $2^4=16$

The frog has thirteen pairs of chromosomes. So $\text{n=13}$

Number of chromosome combinations due to independent assortment is $2^{13}=8192$