The onion karyotype contains 16 chromosomes (2n). Determine the number of chromosomes

The onion karyotype contains 16 chromosomes (2n). Determine the number of chromosomes in anaphase of mitosis in endosperm cells (3n).

Onion karyotype assigns a diploid set of chromosomes (2n). From the condition of the problem, we have that the number of onion cell chromosomes is 16. Let us find the haploid set of chromosomes:

1) n = 2n / 2 = 16/2 = 8;

Since endosperm cells contain a triploid set of chromosomes, we will establish their number:

2) 3n = 3 * 8 = 24;