मराठी

Sex Determination - Sex Determination in Honey Bees

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Estimated time: 6 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12

Definition: Haplodiploid Sex Determination

Haplodiploid sex determination is a mechanism in which sex is determined by the number of chromosome sets, where fertilised diploid (2n) eggs develop into females and unfertilized haploid (n) eggs develop into males, as seen in honeybees.

CBSE: Class 12
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12

Mechanism

Sex determination in honeybee

Step 1: Queen Lays the Egg

The queen bee (2n = 32 chromosomes) lays eggs in honeycomb cells. She can control whether each egg is fertilised or not by releasing or withholding stored sperm from her spermatheca.​

Step 2: Fertilised Egg → Female (Diploid)

  • Queen releases sperm → egg is fertilised → diploid zygote (2n = 32)
  • 16 chromosomes from queen's egg + 16 chromosomes from drone's sperm
  • This fertilised egg develops into a female bee (Queen or Worker)

Step 3: Unfertilised Egg → Male (Haploid)

  • Queen withholds sperm → egg is NOT fertilised → haploid individual (n = 16)
  • This process is called parthenogenesis
  • The unfertilised egg develops into a drone (male bee)

Step 4: Gamete Production

  • Females (diploid, 2n = 32) produce eggs by meiosis → eggs carry 16 chromosomes
  • Males (haploid, n = 16) produce sperm by mitosis → sperm carry 16 chromosomes
CBSE: Class 12
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Sex Determination in Honey Bees

  • Type of system: Honey bees show haplodiploid sex determination, where sex depends on the number of chromosome sets.
  • Chromosome number: Females are diploid (2n = 32), and males are haploid (n = 16).
  • Formation of gametes: The female produces haploid eggs by meiosis, while the male produces sperm by mitosis.
  • Fertilisation: Fertilised eggs develop into diploid females (queen or worker), while unfertilised eggs develop into haploid males (drones) by parthenogenesis.
  • Caste differentiation: Female larvae fed royal jelly develop into queens, while others develop into worker bees.
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