Each sperm of a tomato plant contains twelve chromosomes. What are the haploid and diploid numbers?
The haploid number is the number of chromosomes found in a single set of chromosomes, and the diploid number is the number of chromosomes found in a complete set of chromosomes (two sets).
In the case of the tomato plant, where each sperm contains twelve chromosomes, we can infer that the haploid number is twelve because a sperm represents a single set of chromosomes.
The diploid number can be determined by doubling the haploid number, so in this case, the diploid number would be twenty-four since 12 x 2 = 24.
To determine the haploid and diploid numbers, we need to understand the concept of chromosomes and ploidy in plants.
Chromosomes are thread-like structures found in the nucleus of cells that carry the plant's genetic information. They come in pairs, with one set coming from each parent. The ploidy refers to the number of sets of chromosomes present in a cell or organism.
In tomato plants, each sperm contains twelve chromosomes. This means that the haploid number, represented as "n," is twelve, as it represents the number of chromosomes in a single set.
To find the diploid number, which represents the total number of chromosomes in a cell or organism, we multiply the haploid number by two since each set of chromosomes comes from a different parent. Therefore, in this case, the diploid number, represented as "2n," is 2 * 12 = 24.
In conclusion, the haploid and diploid numbers of a tomato plant are 12 (n) and 24 (2n), respectively.