Mule is sterile and is the interspecific hybrid of

Options

A. horse x mare
B. horse x ass
C. ass x mare
D. none of these

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Interspecific Hybridization**:
- Interspecific hybrids are the offspring produced by the mating of two different species. These species are generally from the same genus but are distinct enough to be classified separately.

2. **Identifying the Species Involved**:
- In the case of mules, the two species involved are the horse (Equus ferus caballus) and the donkey (Equus africanus asinus).

3. **Determining the Parentage of Mule**:
- A mule is specifically produced by mating a female horse (known as a mare) with a male donkey (known as a jack).

4. **Understanding Sterility in Mules**:
- Mules are typically sterile due to the differing number of chromosomes in horses and donkeys. Horses have 64 chromosomes, while donkeys have 62, resulting in mules having 63 chromosomes, which leads to complications in meiosis and prevents them from producing viable gametes.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the answer to the question is that a mule is a sterile interspecific hybrid of a mare (female horse) and a jack (male donkey).

**Final Answer**:
A mule is the sterile interspecific hybrid of a mare (female horse) and a jack (male donkey).

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