NUMERICAL PROBLEMS IN BIOLOGY [FOR STANDARD XII-CBSE] 1
Chapter-2
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN FLOWERING PLANTS
KEY CONCEPT/FORMULA
SET OF CHROMOSOME PLOIDY CONDITIONS
Haploid-n Microspore, pollen grains, male gamete, female gamete,
synergids, antipodals
Diploid-2n Microspore mother cell, any part of shoot system-leaf, root
etc, megaspore mother cell, zygote, embryo, pollen mother
cell
Triploid-3n Endosperm cell, PEN (primary endosperm nucleus)
SOLVED PROBLEMS
1. If the diploid number of chromosomes in an angiosperm plant is 16. Mention the number
of Chromosomes in the endosperm and antipodal cell.
Ans: 24 Chromosomes in endosperm (3n) and 8 chromosomes in antipodal cell (n).
2. A bilobed, dithecous anther has 100 microspore mother cells per microsporangium. How
many male gametophytes can this anther produce? (CBSE 2010)
Ans: 400 male gametophytes
3. If the chromosomes number of plant species is 42, what could be the chromosome
number and the ploidy level of the cell microspore mother cell, female gamete and
endosperm cells?
Ans: No. of chromosomes in of plant species (2n) = 42
No. of chromosomes in Microspore mother cell (2n) = 42
No. of chromosomes in female gamete (n) = 42/2
NUMERICAL PROBLEMS IN BIOLOGY [FOR STANDARD XII-CBSE] 2
= 21
No. of chromosomes in the endosperm cells (3n) = 63
4. How many pollen grains and ovules are likely to be formed in the anther and the ovary of
angiosperms bearing 25 microspore mother cell and 25 megaspore mother cells
respectively?
Ans: 100 pollen grains and 25 ovules (75 will degenerate and 25 will function)
5. A flower of tomato plant following the process of sexual reproduction produces 240
viable seeds. (CBSE Delhi 57/1/3 2015)
Answer the following questions giving reasons:
a) What is the minimum number of pollen grains that must have been involved in the
pollination of its pistil?
b) What would have been the minimum number of ovules present in the ovary?
c) How many megaspore mother cells were involved?
d) What is the minimum number of microspore mother cells involved in the above case?
e) How many male gametes were involved in this case?
Ans:
a) 240 , one pollen grain participates in fertilisation of one ovule
b) 240 , one ovule after fertilisation forms one seed
c) 240 , each MMC forms four megaspores out of which only one remain functional
d) 60 , each microspore mother cell meiotically divides to form four pollen grains (240/4
= 60)
e) 480 , each pollen grain carries two male gametes (which participate in double
fertilisation) (240 × 2 = 480)
EXERCISE FOR MASTERY LEARNING
1. A flower of tomato plant following the process of sexual reproduction produces 200
viable seeds. Answer the following questions giving reasons: (CBSE Delhi 57/1/1 2015)
NUMERICAL PROBLEMS IN BIOLOGY [FOR STANDARD XII-CBSE] 3
a) What would have been the minimum number of ovules present in pre-pollinated pistil?
b) How many microspore mother cells would minimally be required to produce requisite
number of pollen grain?
c) How many pollen grains must have minimally pollinated the carpel?
d) How many male gametes would have used to produce these 200 viable seeds?
e) How many megaspore mother cells were required in this process?
2. A flower of brinjal plant following the process of sexual reproduction produces 360
viable seeds. (CBSE Delhi 57/1/2 2015)
Answer the following questions giving reasons:
a) How many ovules are minimally involved?
b) How many megaspore mother cells are involved?
c) What is the minimum number of pollen grains that must land on stigma for pollination?
d) How many male gametes are involved in the above case?
e) How many microspore mother cells must have undergone reduction division prior to
dehiscence of anther in the above case?
3. If the diploid number of chromosomes in an angiosperm plant is 22. Mention number of
Chromosomes in the endosperm and antipodal cell.
4. How many pollen grains and ovules are likely to be formed in the anther and the ovary of
angiosperms bearing 30 microspore mother cell and 30 megaspore mother cells
respectively?
ANSWER HINTS
1.
a) 200
b) 50
c) 200
d) 400
e) 200
2.
a) 360
b) 360
c) 360
d) 720
e) 90
3. 33 Chromosomes in endosperm (3n) and 11 chromosomes in antipodal cell (n).
4. 120 pollen grains and 30 ovules (90 will degenerate and 30 will function)
Chapter-3
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
KEY CONCEPT/FORMULA
SET OF CHROMOSOME PLOIDY CONDITIONS
Haploid-n secondary spermatocytes, Spermatid, Spermatozoa,
Secondary oocyte, Ovum, Second Polar body
Diploid-2n Germinal epithelium, Spermatogonia
Primary spermatocytes, Oogonia, Primary oocyte, Zygote
SOLVED PROBLEMS
1. How many sperms will be produced from 10 primary spermatocytes and how many eggs
will be produced from 10 primary oocytes?
Ans: 40 sperms, 10 eggs
2. The spermatogonial cell has 46 chromosomes in human male. Give the number of
chromosomes in the following,
(a) Primary spermatocyte
(b) Spermatid
Ans
(i) 46 in Primary spermatocyte
(ii) 23 in spermatid.
3. How many eggs do you think were released by the ovary of a female dog which gave
birth to 6 puppies?
Ans: six eggs are released by the ovary of a female dog if it gave birth to six puppies (actually
dog is a polyovulatory animal)
EXERCISE FOR MASTERY LEARNING
1. The spermatogonial cell has 46 chromosomes in human male. Give the number of
chromosomes in –
(a) Spermatogonia
(b) Germinal epithelium
(c) Spermatid
2. How many eggs do you think were released by the ovary of a female dog which gave
birth to 8 puppies?
ANSWER HINTS
1. (a) & (b) 46 chromosomes and (c) 23 chromosomes.
2. 8 eggs
