Answer:
c. 28
Explanation:
Plant A has a dipoid chromosome number of 12, so its gametes will have an haploid number of 6 chromosomes.
Plant B has a dipoid chromosome number of 16, so its gametes will have an haploid number of 8 chromosomes.
<h2><u>Plant A</u> <u>Plant B</u></h2><h2>2n = 12 2n = 16</h2><h2> n = 6 n = 8</h2><h2 />
The new species C arises as an allopolyploid from A and B. An allopolyploid usually originates from the breeding of two different species.
In this case, <u>a gamete from plant A combines with a gamete from plant B to form a hybrid with 14 chromosomes</u> (6 from A and 8 from B). These chromosomes are unpaired, so the hybrid is sterile.
In order to become a fertile diploid individual of species C, the most common mechanism is polyploidization, where the genome duplicates. <u>That way, the resulting plant C has a diploid number of 14 x 2 = 28 chromosomes</u>, of which 12 are A and 16 are B.
