Have you ever wondered about the genetic makeup of different species? Let's explore the genetic composition of one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom - the Rhesus monkey. This particular species of monkey is known to possess 42 chromosomes in total. This is the combined result of the union of two gametes, each of which carries 21 chromosomes.
In the realm of biology, gametes or reproductive cells are unique as they hold a single copy of each chromosome. Unlike other cells, they do not contain a pair of chromosomes, making them solitary in their nature. However, during reproduction, when a male and a female gamete unite, they form a zygote. This single cell carries two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent. Hence, in the case of the Rhesus monkey, the zygote ends up carrying a total of 42 chromosomes.
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Dive deeper into the fascinating world of biology and explore more about this and related topics.