30. How many genetically different gametes can be made by an individual of genotype AaBbccDDEe?
(1) 3 (2) 5
(3) 1/4 (4) 32
Step-by-step reasoning
Genotype: Aa Bb cc DD Ee
- A locus: Aa → 2 possible alleles in gametes (A or a)
- B locus: Bb → 2 possible alleles (B or b)
- C locus: cc → 1 allele (c only)
- D locus: DD → 1 allele (D only)
- E locus: Ee → 2 possible alleles (E or e)
Heterozygous loci count
Number of heterozygous pairs (n) = 3 (A, B, E) [web:50][web:51].
For independently assorting loci, number of different gametes:
de>No. of gametes = 2n = 23 = 8
So the true theoretical answer is 8 different gamete types [web:52].
Options analysis
- 32 corresponds to 2⁵ (five heterozygous loci, which is not the case here)
- 3 or 5 are not powers of 2
- 1/4 is not even a count
Given the standard genetics rule, the correct count from AaBbccDDEe is 8, but since 8 is absent from the MCQ options, this appears to be a misprint in the choices.


