मराठी

Sex Determination - Sex Determination in Honey Bees

Advertisements

Topics

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: fertilised diploid (2n) eggs develop into females, and unfertilised 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 the 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.
Advertisements
Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×