Question

Explain the haplo-diploid method of sex determination in the honey bee.

Answer 1

Haplo-diploid method of sex determination in the honey bee:

1. In honey bees, the chromosomal mechanism of sex determination is of haplo-diploid type.
2. In this type, the sex of the individual is determined by the number of the set of chromosomes received.
3. Females are diploid (2n=32) and males are haploid (n=16).
4. The female produces haploid eggs (n=16) by meiosis and male produces haploid sperms (n=16) by mitosis.
5. If the egg is fertilized by sperm, the zygote develops into a diploid female (2n=32) (queen and worker) and an unfertilized egg develops into a haploid male (n=16) (Drone) by way of parthenogenesis.
6. The diploid female gets differentiated into either worker or queen bee depending on the food they consume during their development.
7. Diploid larvae which get royal jelly as food develops into queen (fertile female) and other develops into workers (sterile females).