NEETZoologyPrinciples of Inheritance and Variation
In the haplodiploid sex-determination system, what is unique about the male honey bee's lineage?
Options
- AMales have no grandfathers
- BMales have no fathers
- CMales have no grandsons
- DMales can have sons
Correct answer
B. Males have no fathers
Step-by-step solution
The sex determination in honey bee 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 as haplodiploid sex-determination system