Question

which of the following is true of an organism that has a chromosome number of 2n = 16?
during the s phase of the cell cycle, there will be 32 separate chromosomes.
a gamete from this species has four chromosomes.
each cell has eight homologous pairs of chromosomes.
the species has 16 sets of chromosomes per cell.

Explanation:

• Option 1: During the S - phase, DNA replicates, but chromosomes are still in the form of sister chromatids attached at the centromere. So, the number of chromosomes does not double to 32.
• Option 2: Gametes are haploid. If \(2n = 16\), then \(n=8\), not 4.
• Option 3: If \(2n = 16\), then \(n = 8\). The diploid cell has \(n\) pairs of homologous chromosomes. So, there are 8 homologous pairs of chromosomes.
• Option 4: \(2n\) means 2 sets of chromosomes (diploid). Here \(2n = 16\), so there are 2 sets of chromosomes per cell, not 16.

Answer:

C. Each cell has eight homologous pairs of chromosomes.