explain whether or not offsprings get more genes from one parent or get an equal number of genes from each parents. What evidence do we this is true?​

Biology · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

Offspring receive an equal number of genes from each parent. This is because humans have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. Humans are diploid organisms, which means that for every chromosome that an individual possesses, there is a corresponding chromosome from the other parent – a pair. Every individual has 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46. During reproduction, each parent contributes one set of 23 chromosomes via the sex cells or gametes (sperm for the father, egg for the mother).

The process of meiosis is the evidence that supports this. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes by half to form gametes. Each gamete (sperm or egg) ends up with 23 unpaired chromosomes. During fertilization, a sperm and an egg merge to form a zygote, restoring the full complement of 46 chromosomes, half from the mother and half from the father.

Furthermore, studies of human genetics demonstrate that, on average, individuals inherit about 50 percent of their genes from each parent, though the exact mix of which genes come from each parent can vary due to genetic recombination, which occurs during meiosis. This recombination creates new combinations of genes, which contributes to genetic diversity. However, the overall number of genes contributed by each parent remains equal.