A mule is the offspring of a horse and a donkey. A donkey sperm contains 31 chromosomes | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology

Chapter 8 Problem 12

Question

A mule is the offspring of a horse and a donkey. A donkey sperm contains 31 chromosomes and a horse egg has 32 chromosomes, so the zygote contains a total of 63 chromosomes. The zygote develops normally. The combined set of chromosomes is not a problem in mitosis, and the mule combines some of the best characteristics of horses and donkeys. However, a mule is sterile; meiosis cannot occur normally in its testes or ovaries. Explain why mitosis is normal in cells containing both horse and donkey chromosomes but the mixed set of chromosomes interferes with meiosis

Solution

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The first step in solving 8 problem number 12 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: A mule is the offspring of a horse and a donkey. A donkey sperm contains 31 chromosomes and a horse egg has 32 chromosomes, so the zygote contains a total of 63 chromosomes. The zygote develops normally. The combined set of chromosomes is not a problem in mitosis, and the mule combines some of the best characteristics of horses and donkeys. However, a mule is sterile; meiosis cannot occur normally in its testes or ovaries. Explain why mitosis is normal in cells containing both horse and donkey chromosomes but the mixed set of chromosomes interferes with meiosis
From the textbook chapter Cellular Reproduction: Cells from Cells you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology 4 
Author Eric J. Simon Jean L. Dickey, Jane B. Reece
ISBN 9780321772602

A mule is the offspring of a horse and a donkey. A donkey sperm contains 31 chromosomes

Chapter 8 textbook questions

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