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

Question

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

Explanation / Answer

A mule is the offspring of a horse and a donkey contains 63 chromosomes which are segregated from 31 chromosomes of donkey sperm and 32 chromosomes of horse egg cell. Mules exhibit hybrid sterility. As mules consist of 63 chromosomes that are a mixture of one from each parent, it prevents the chromosomes from pairing up properly, due to the odd number of chromosomes. This results in absence of successful embryos. Where as mitosis takes place normally as pairing up of chromosomes is not necessary in this process.

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