Yellow dung flies (Scathophaga stercoraria) are diploid organisms with 12 chromosomes in their diploid cells. Without taking into account recombination, how many different genetic gametes can this fly generate based on the arrangement of its chromosomes in the metaphase plate during meiosis

The correct answer is 4096.

Explanation:

At metaphase I, the arrangement of chromosomes takes place at the equatorial plate and at the equator, the orientation of homologous pairs takes place randomly. This orientation helps in finding the genes found within a gamete as each of the gametes will get only one chromatid of a chromosome.  

Now by independent assortment, the variation occurs within the gametes, which suggests that the alleles of distinct genes separate independently from one another at the time of cell differentiation. Due to independent assortment, the number of different kinds of gametes possible within the chromosomes can be determined by using the formula, 2ⁿ, where n is the number of chromosomes present within a set.  

Based on the given information, the number of chromosomes present in a fruit fly is 12. Thus, the sum of the number of gametes possible in the mentioned fruit fly is 2¹² or 4096.  

explanation:

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