The following question is based on information from Kondo Y. and Kashiwagi A., Experimentally induced autotetraploidy and allotetraploidy in two Japanese pond frogs, Journal of Herpetology 38(3):381−92 (2004).
Two researchers experimentally formed tetraploid frogs by fertilizing diploid eggs from Rana porosa brevipoda with diploid sperm from Rana nigromaculata. When they allowed the tetraploid frogs to mate with each other, most of the offspring that survived to maturity were tetraploid, with chromosome sets of both diploid parent species. Based on these results, if this type of tetraploid formed in the wild, what would be the most likely result?
A) The two parent species would interbreed and fuse into one species.
B) The two parent species would recognize each other as mates.
C) The tetraploids would be reproductively isolated from both parent species.
D) The tetraploids would invade the habitats of both parental species and cause them to go extinct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tetraploids, having double the chromosome number of either parent species, would likely be reproductively incompatible with either parent species, leading to reproductive isolation.

The Following Question Is Based on Information from Kondo Y