The image depicts the life cycle of an animal, showing a dominant diploid stage and the production of gametes through meiosis. In which class would you classify the organism?

• A. Insecta
• B. Mammalia
• C. Amphibia
• D. Aves

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the life cycle described in the problem. The dominant diploid stage indicates that the organism spends most of its life in a diploid state, which is typical of animals that reproduce sexually.
2. Step 2: Recall that gametes (sperm and egg cells) are produced through meiosis in sexually reproducing organisms. Meiosis reduces the chromosome number from diploid (2n) to haploid (n), ensuring genetic diversity.
3. Step 3: Analyze the options provided. Insecta, Mammalia, Amphibia, and Aves are all classes of animals, but the dominant diploid stage is a key characteristic of vertebrates, which include Mammalia, Amphibia, and Aves.
4. Step 4: Consider the reproductive strategies and life cycles of each class. Mammalia, Amphibia, and Aves all exhibit a dominant diploid stage and produce gametes through meiosis. Insecta, however, may have variations in their life cycle, such as haplodiploidy in some species.
5. Step 5: Narrow down the classification based on additional traits. Mammalia is characterized by features such as live birth (in most species), hair, and mammary glands, which are not shared by Amphibia, Aves, or Insecta. This aligns with the dominant diploid stage described in the problem.