Question 9 of 15intermediate🔧 ApplyShort Answer2 marks

A diploid organism is heterozygous for 4 loci, how many types of gametes can be produced?

Correct Answer

16 types of gametes can be produced by a diploid organism that is heterozygous for 4 loci.

According to the Law of Segregation, during gamete formation, the factors or alleles of a pair segregate from each other such that a gamete receives only one of the two factors. A heterozygous parent produces two kinds of gametes each having one allele with equal proportion.

For each of the 4 heterozygous loci, there are 2 possible alleles that can be passed on. Therefore, the total number of different gamete types = 2×22 \times 2 × 2×22 \times 2 = 16 gamete types.

Exercise: EXERCISES | Q: 3 | (Chapter: 28)
For More Understanding

Explanation

This question is based on the Law of Segregation from the NCERT textbook. The context states that a heterozygous parent produces two kinds of gametes, each having one allele. The dihybrid cross example in the context shows 4 gamete types (RY, Ry, rY, ry) for 2 heterozygous loci, confirming the 2n2^{n} pattern. Extending this to 4 heterozygous loci: 242^{4} = 16 different gamete combinations.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify that for each heterozygous locus, 2 types of gametes are possible (as per Law of Segregation)

  2. Step 2: Apply the formula: Number of gamete types = 2n2^{n}, where n = number of heterozygous loci

  3. Step 3: Calculate: 242^{4} = 2×22 \times 2 × 2×22 \times 2 = 16 gamete types

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