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Because humans have 23 chromosome pairs, independent assortment alone gives roughly:
AEight hundred gametes
BEight thousand gametes
CEight million gametes
DEight billion gametes
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Eight million gametes
1. The count is two raised to the number of pairs.
2. With n equal to 23, that is 2 to the power 23.
3. Humans have 23 chromosome pairs, which results in over eight million possible genetically distinct gametes.
4. Crossing over multiplies that variety further still.
_Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 11 'Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction', sections 11.1-11.2_
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