AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Maize has ten pairs of chromosomes, which means that the number of autosomes in its haploid cell is 10. Hence, total number of linkage groups will be 10, provided all the genes are mapped.

Detailed explanation-2: -The maximum number of linka ge groups is equal to the haploid chromosome number of Page 5 an organism. For example there are ten linkage groups in corn (2n = 20), seven in garden pea (2n = 14), seven in barley (2n = 14), four in Drosophila melanogaster (2n = 8) and 23 in man (2n = 46).

Detailed explanation-3: -Therefore, the number of linkage groups are 10.

Detailed explanation-4: -Hence, in maize, the chromosome number in the diploid meiocytes (2n) is 20. The gametes or the reproductive cells (n) have 10 chromosomes. Since a somatic cell is diploid (2n) has chromosomes from two sets of gametes inherited from each parent, the total number of chromosomes in a somatic cell is 20.

Detailed explanation-5: -The 20 chromosomes in a corn plant are thus made of 10 homologous chromosome pairs. This idea is particularly useful in understanding the meiosis. Genes at corresponding locations do not have to be different; when they are different, it’s called heterozygous, as in an F1 hybrid.