Drones do not have fathers!
Background- Our physical characteristics are determined by our genes.
- So are some of our other attributes
- Genes are on our chromosomes
- We have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs)
- We get 23 from our mother.
- The chromosomes from the mother are in the ovum (egg cell).
- A cell with half the full set of chromosomes is "haploid"
- We get 23 from our father.
- The chromosomes from the father are in the sperm.
- A cell with half the full set of chromosomes is "haploid"
- When an egg is fertilised it has a full set of chromosomes.
- A cell with a full set of chromosomes is "diploid"
But what about bees?
- A queen bee has 32 chromosomes (16 pairs)
- She gets 16 from her mother (a Queen) and 16 from her father (a drone).
- Queens are diploid - a full set of chromosomes.
- A worker bee has 32 chromosomes (16 pairs)
- She gets 16 from her mother (a Queen) and 16 from her father (a drone).
- Workers are diploid - a full set of chromosomes.
- An unfertlised egg only has 16 chromosomes.
- An unfertilised egg develops into a drone.
- Drones are haploid - half of a full set of chromosomes.
A family tree for bees.
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