NEETZoologyPrinciples of Inheritance and Variation
How does the chromosome number of males compare to females in honey bees?
Options
- AMales have twice as many chromosomes as females
- BMales have half the number of chromosomes as females
- CMales and females have the same number of chromosomes
- DMales have more chromosomes than females
Correct answer
B. Males have half the number of chromosomes as females
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