Mules are considered hybrids, not a separate species. Mules result from the join
ID: 89915 • Letter: M
Question
Mules are considered hybrids, not a separate species. Mules result from the joining of gametes from a female horse (n=32) and a male donkey (n=31).
Define hybrid. What would the diploid (2n) number be for the mule that would be produced in the mating of the female horse and male donkey described above?
Mules are sterile, meaning they cannot produce gametes of their own. In terms of chromosomes, explain why this could be.
For each concept, explain whether it would suggest that a mule is a separate species or not a separate species.
Biological Concept:
Mate-Recognition Species Concept:
Genetic Species Concept:
Morphological Species Concept:
Phylogenetic Species Concept:
Explanation / Answer
Answer a) A hybrid is an offspring produced by the crossing between two individuals having different genotypes. The hybrid has characteristics of both the parents.
When there is mating between female horse (n=32) and male donkey (n=31), a mule having 63 chromosomes (2n=63) is produced.
Answer b) During metaphase I of meiosis I, the chromosomes of horse and donkey does not pair properly with each other. Because of the unpairing of one chromosome, some gametes have one less chromosome and some will have one extra chromosome. This means the hybrid mule either contains 30 bivalents and one trivalent or 31 bivalents and one univalent. The unbalanced gametes don't form a viable zygote and hence mules are sterile.
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