Question

If the integument of an angiosperm seed contains cells with 20 chromosomes, how many chromosomes would you expect to find in the cell of an endosperm from the same seed?
10

20

30

40

Answer 1

Answer:

30

Explanation:

The seed of an angiosperm is formed as a result of fertilization (fusion of sperm in pollens and the ova from ovary). According to the question, the cells of the seed which will grow into the plant contains 20 chromosomes. Seeds of angiosperms contain a tissue called ENDOSPERM that forms as a result of the unique DOUBLE FERTILIZATION in angiosperms. It occurs when one haploid sperm cell fuses with two haploid polar nuclei to form a triploid endospermic structure that serves as food for the growing embryo in the seed.

Now based on the above explanation, the diploid plant cell with 20 chromosomes will have 10 chromosomes (half as much) in its gametes as a result of meiosis. This 10 chromosomes in each gamete (sperm and ovum) fuses to form a diploid zygote with 20 chromosomes, while one haploid sperm cell (10 chromosomes) also fuses with two haploid polar nuclei (10 chromosomes each) to form a triploid endosperm with 30 chromosomes i.e. 10+10+10.