Question

In a somatic cell, there are 16 chromosomes. What will be the number of chromosomes in the pollen mother cell of the plant?
A. 16
B. 8
C. 24
D. 32

Answer 1

Hint: A somatic cell is any cell in the body that is not a gamete or germ cell. Somatic cells make up the majority of cells in the body and are responsible for the growth and maintenance of the body's tissues and organs. Examples of somatic cells include skin cells, muscle cells, and nerve cells.
Complete step-by-step Solution: While pollen grains are cells created by the meiotic division of pollen mother cells, the root cell will only have 16 chromosomes.
All 23 chromosomes from the mother cell are present in pollen grains, along with extra genetic material (called sex pheromone).
Meiosis is a process that occurs in plants to create new haploid gametes. This happens during two stages: prophase I and II. In prophase I, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the DNA within each chromosome is exposed. Proteins called condensins bind together these chromosomes to form large clumps called microtubules. These microtubules then contract, causing their constituent chromosomes to separate into four equal parts, or tetrad nuclei.
In prophase II, the separated chromatin regroups into spindle fibers, which pass through the midzone until they reach the opposite poles of the flower pistil, where they synapse with other spindle fibres from previous generations.
Thus, Option (A) is correct.
Note: Pollen mother cells are formed in the anthers of flowering plants. They are formed by meiosis, a type of cell division that produces four haploid cells from one diploid cell. During meiosis, the diploid cell undergoes two rounds of cell division, resulting in four haploid cells. Each of these cells contains half the number of chromosomes as the original diploid cell. The four haploid cells then develop into pollen grains, which are the male gametes of the plant.