Question

Which of the following statements are true with reference to the sex-determination in honeybees?
A. An offspring formed from the union of a sperm and an egg develops as a female (queen or worker).
B. An unfertilized egg develops as a male by parthenogenesis.
C. A male has half the number of chromosomes than that of a female.
D. Males produce sperms by meiosis.
E. Honeybees have a haplodiploid sex-determination system.

• A. A, B, C and E only
• B. B, C, D and E only
• C. A, B, C and D only
• D. A, B, D and E only

Hint:

To remember why drones use mitosis: They are already at the "halfway point" ($n$). If they did meiosis, they'd have "half-a-set" of instructions, which doesn't work! Male Honeybees = Mitosis.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1 : Understanding the Question
The question explores the haplodiploid mechanism of sex determination in honeybees, where the ploidy level (number of chromosome sets) determines sex.
Step 2 : Key Formulas and approach
Approach based on chromosome counts: 1. Female = 32 (2n). 2. Male = 16 (n). We check the processes of fertilization and gametogenesis.
Step 3 : Detailed Explanation

Fertilization (A): Fusion of sperm and egg leads to a diploid zygote, which (A) develops into a female. Statement A is true.

Parthenogenesis (B): Males develop from (B) unfertilized eggs, a process called parthenogenesis. Statement B is true.

Ploidy (C): Because they come from haploid eggs, (C) males have 16 chromosomes while females have 32. Statement C is true.

Gametogenesis (D): Since males are already haploid, they (D) produce sperm via mitosis, not meiosis. Statement D is false.

Classification (E): This system is correctly called (E) haplodiploid. Statement E is true.

Step 4 : Final Answer
Statements A, B, C, and E are true. This corresponds to option (A).