Which two structures of a frog would most likely have the same chromosome number?

• A. Red blood cell and egg cell
• B. Egg cell and muscle cell
• C. Sperm cell and nerve cell
• D. Liver cell and skin cell

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the chromosome number in cells depends on whether the cell is somatic (body cell) or gametic (reproductive cell). Somatic cells are diploid (2n), meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, while gametic cells are haploid (n), meaning they have one set of chromosomes.
2. Identify the types of cells mentioned in the problem: red blood cell, egg cell, muscle cell, sperm cell, nerve cell, liver cell, and skin cell. Determine whether each is somatic or gametic.
3. Recognize that red blood cells in many vertebrates, including frogs, lack a nucleus and therefore do not contain chromosomes. Egg cells and sperm cells are gametes, so they are haploid (n). Muscle cells, nerve cells, liver cells, and skin cells are somatic cells, so they are diploid (2n).
4. Compare the chromosome numbers of the cells. Since liver cells and skin cells are both somatic cells, they will have the same diploid chromosome number (2n).
5. Conclude that the two structures most likely to have the same chromosome number are the liver cell and the skin cell, as they are both somatic cells with identical chromosome counts.