question_answer 59)

  From the internet, gather information about the chromosome numbers of five animals and five plants. Correlate the number with the size of organism and answer the following questions. (a) Do larger organisms have more number of chromosomes/cells? (b) Can organism with fewer chromosomes reproduce more easily than organisms with more number of chromosomes? (c) More the number of chromosomes/cells greater is the DNA content. Justify.

Answer:

                  Number of chromosomes in somatic cells of some animals and plants Animals               Number of Chromosomes Cat                                         38 Lion                                        38 Dog                                        78 Elephant                              58 Kingfisher                            132 Plants Potato                                  48 Oats                                       42 Wheat                                  42 Mango                                  40 Rice                                        24 (a) No. there is no relationship between size of organism and its chromosome number. A smaller organism may have more chromosomes than a larger organism. (b) No, process of reproduction follows a common pattern and is not dependent on the chromosome number. Ability to reproduce depends on a variety of factors like availability of nutrients, water, suitable mate, etc. (c) Yes, since the major component of chromosome is DNA, if there are more chromosomes in a cell, the quantity of DNA will also be more.