1. How many different combinations do you think are possible for a cell like ours with 3 pairs of chromosomes using only random alignment?

Eight

Explanation:

The arrangement of chromosomes shall be governed by the principle of independent assortment which allows each chromosome to assort independently. If we follow the general rule of pairing, the number of chromosome pair formed depends of the number of different types of chromosome denoted by "n". Total number of chromosome pair would be 2 raised to the power n. Therefore, if n is equal to three, then total eight pairs would be formed.

For instance if (P, p), (Q, q), (R, r) are three set of chromosomes, then the eight pairs would be as follows -

• P Q R

• P Q r

• P q r

• P q R

• p Q R

• p Q r

• p q R

• p q r