Question

Differentiate between monosomics and nullisomics.

Answer 1

Feature	Monosomics	Nullisomics
Chromosome number	Monosomics represent the loss of a single chromosome from the diploid set, resulting in the chromosome complement 2n-1.	Nullisomics lack a single pair of homologous chromosomes, resulting in the chromosome complement 2n-2.
Description	They have one chromosome less than the normal diploid number, missing one chromosome from a homologous pair.	They lack both chromosomes of a homologous pair, missing the entire pair.
Genetic imbalance	Monosomics create a major genetic imbalance due to the absence of one chromosome, which cannot be tolerated in diploids.	Nullisomics have an even more severe imbalance due to the absence of a homologous pair.
Example	If the diploid number is 2n, monosomics have (2n-1) chromosomes.	If the diploid number is 2n, nullisomics have (2n-2) chromosomes.