It has been found that the domestic horses have 64 chromosomes in their cell. Predict the number of chromosomes in the egg cell of a female horse.

Options

A. 16
B. 32
C. 64
D. 128

Answer

To solve the question regarding the number of chromosomes in the egg cell of a female horse, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Chromosome Count in Horses
The question states that domestic horses have 64 chromosomes in their somatic (body) cells. This is the diploid number (2N), which means that horses have two sets of chromosomes.

### Step 2: Identify the Type of Cell
We need to determine the number of chromosomes in the egg cell of a female horse. The egg cell is a type of gamete.

### Step 3: Apply the Concept of Meiosis
Gametes (sperm and egg cells) are produced through a process called meiosis, which reduces the chromosome number by half. This means that if the diploid number (2N) is 64, the haploid number (N) will be half of that.

### Step 4: Calculate the Haploid Number
To find the haploid number of chromosomes in the egg cell, we divide the diploid number by 2:
\[ N = \frac{2N}{2} = \frac{64}{2} = 32 \]

### Step 5: Conclusion
Thus, the number of chromosomes in the egg cell of a female horse is 32.

### Final Answer
The egg cell of a female horse contains **32 chromosomes**.

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