Maize has 10 pairs of chromosomes.How many linkage groups does it have ?

Options

A. 20
B. 10
C. 5
D. 40

Answer

To determine the number of linkage groups in maize, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Concept of Linkage Groups
Linkage groups are defined as the set of genes located on the same chromosome that are inherited together during meiosis, except for occasional crossovers. In diploid organisms, each pair of homologous chromosomes represents a linkage group.

### Step 2: Identify the Chromosome Count in Maize
The question states that maize has 10 pairs of chromosomes. In diploid organisms, the total number of chromosomes (2n) is twice the number of pairs. Therefore, if maize has 10 pairs, it has a total of:
- Total chromosomes (2n) = 10 pairs × 2 = 20 chromosomes.

### Step 3: Calculate the Number of Linkage Groups
In a diploid organism, the number of linkage groups is equal to the number of pairs of chromosomes. Since maize has 10 pairs of chromosomes, the number of linkage groups is:
- Number of linkage groups = Number of pairs of chromosomes = 10.

### Step 4: Conclusion
Thus, maize has **10 linkage groups**.

### Final Answer
The number of linkage groups in maize is **10**.

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