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

Answer

C

Explanation

The cells which undergo meiosis are called meiocytes. If meiocytes is indulged in gamete formation, then it is called gamete mother cell. In maize, the gamete producing cells are diploid in nature and are called meiocytes. Meiocytes always have diploid (2n) number of chromosomes, similar to the somatic cells.
In the sexual reproduction, two fundamental processes occur, i.e., meiosis that reduces the number of the chromosome from 2n to n and fertilization or fusion of two haploid gametes to form a diploid zygote. Meiosis is essential in sexual reproduction since, it reduces the chromosome number to half in gametes so that after fertilization the number of chromosomes in species remains constant.
So, in maize, if a meiocytes has 20 chromosomes, then the number of the chromosome in a somatic cell is also going to be the same, i.e. 20.