NEETZoologyPrinciples of Inheritance and Variation
How is sex determined in honey bees?
Options
- ABy the presence of a Y-chromosome
- BBy the number of sets of chromosomes an individual receives
- CBy the presence of specific environmental factors
- DBy the sex chromosomes alone
Correct answer
B. By the number of sets of chromosomes an individual receives
Step-by-step solution
The sex determination in honey 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 sex-determination system and has special cha