Question

"The chromosomal number of the sexually producing parents and their offspring is the same." Justify this statement.

Answer 1

The first step in sexual reproduction is gamete formation. In this step, the number of chromosomes gets halved. Thus, each gamete receives half the number of chromosomes to that of somatic cells. During fertilisation, the fusion of male and female gametes takes place, which results in the number of chromosomes in the zygote to be equal to that of somatic cells. Thus, the chromosomal number of the sexually producing parents and their offspring is the same.