Why are organisms with an odd number of chromosome sets usually sterile?
A)Almost all gametes will have an unbalanced set of chromosomes.
B)Chromosomes will fail to segregate independently during meiosis I
C)Chromosomes will fail to segregate independently during meiosis II
D)Since there is an odd number of chromosomal sets meiosis will not occur at all.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Organisms with an odd number of chromosome sets usually produce gametes with an unbalanced set of chromosomes, leading to infertility or sterility in the offspring. This occurs because during meiosis, chromosomes must align in pairs, and an odd number of chromosomes cannot form pairs. Therefore, there is a high probability of an unequal distribution of chromosomes to the resulting daughter cells, leading to reproductive failure.

Why Are Organisms with an Odd Number of Chromosome Sets