why is the initial number of chromosomes in cells referred to as diploid and 2n, what does the n represent?
2007-02-10 06:30:05 · 6 answers · asked by Siminator 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The n stands for nothing.
2007-02-10 06:33:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
diploid comes from a Latin root "di" meaning two. So a diploid cell would have two chromosomes of each type.
In a cell with 2n chromosomes, the chromosomes have duplicated, but the cell has not yet split, so there are 2 of each chromosome. the n is a general term referring to the usual numbers of chromosomes in the cell. Cells from different organisms have different numbers of chromosomes. So, in this case, "2n" means that, whatever the usual number of chromosomes is, this cell has twice that number. That way, you can say 2n for Drosophilia (fruit flies) or humans, or dogs, without having to stop and remember the original number of chromosomes that each has. So this makes it easy for you.
"biology"
2007-02-10 06:41:06 · answer #2 · answered by cancerdoc 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
N refers to one complete set of chromosomes, one of each kind of chromosome.
People have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Our n = 23. Our body cells are diploid, 2n, which is 46.
Fruit flies have 4 pairs of chromosomes. n = 4. 2n = 8.
2007-02-10 06:33:55 · answer #3 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the intial number is referred to as diploid because there are 2 sets of chromosomes. the n is the number of sets of chromosome. for example, sperm and egg cells in humans are n or haploid because they join and combine their sets of chromosomes to make a diploid offspring
2007-02-10 06:36:37 · answer #4 · answered by The Watched 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After meiosis, one of each 23- chromosomes end up in gametes. n stand for the Hyploid number in gametes
2007-02-10 06:39:23 · answer #5 · answered by sbmlewis1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
n is the number of haploid chromosomes.
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2007-02-10 08:37:02 · answer #6 · answered by wesnaw1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋