In maize, a meiocyte has 20 chromosomes. What will be the number of chromosomes in its somatic cell ?

Options

A. 40
B. 30
C. 20
D. 10

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the number of chromosomes in the somatic cell of maize, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the term "meiocyte":** A meiocyte is a cell that undergoes meiosis to produce gametes. In maize, it is stated that a meiocyte has 20 chromosomes.

2. **Determine the ploidy level of the meiocyte:** Meiocytes are typically diploid (2n), meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes. Therefore, if a meiocyte has 20 chromosomes, it is a diploid cell.

3. **Relate meiocytes to somatic cells:** Somatic cells in an organism are also diploid and contain the same number of chromosomes as meiocytes. This means that the number of chromosomes in somatic cells is equal to that in meiocytes.

4. **Conclusion:** Since the meiocyte in maize has 20 chromosomes, the number of chromosomes in its somatic cells will also be 20.

### Final Answer:
The number of chromosomes in the somatic cell of maize is **20**.

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