What is the reason for having multiple number of chromosomes?

Question

In nature we find that different species have different number of chromosomes. It can be argued (at least theoretically) that the same genetic information could have been stored on a single chromosome strand; why then in nature we find multiple chromosomes. It is obvious that it makes the structure more compact, but does it make multiple chromosomes more efficient than a single strand allowing multiple cross over (for exchange of genetic information during cell multiplication)?

Answer 1

A tricky question actually. In theory there are advantages to having multiple copies of chromosomes. For example, if you get one bad copy of a gene (or if a gene is mutated) you will have another good copy to compensate for it.

Answer 2

I would say so. I was always under the impression that this increases the "gene pool," so that offspring will come out as normal as possible and inherit more of the parents' traits.