You have learned that humans have a total of 46 chromosomes and that chimpanzees have a total of 48 chromosomes. Use other textb
ooks in biological anthropology and biology (or reputable online resources) to find the number of chromosomes in other organisms. Give an organism with considerably more chromosomes than humans. Give an organism with considerably fewer chromosomes than humans. Did your findings surprise you? What did your research suggest about the relationship between chromosome number and organism complexity?
The correct answer is included in the Explanation section
Explanation:
An organism with considerable more chromosomes than humans: the plant <em>Ophioglossum reticulatum</em> with 1260 chromosomes.
An organism with considerable fewer chromosomes than humans: the ant <em>Myrmecia pilosula</em> with 1 chromosome.
It might be thought that the chromosome number of a species is directly related to its complexity, meaning that an organism with a large number of chromosomes is more complex than an organism with a small number. However, this is not true. Chromosomes are structures of coiled DNA, and its number indicate how the cells wrapp their genomic material when they reproduce. The number of chromosomes is not related to the organism complexity, but rather the number of genes and their function.
