Animals that sexually reproduce are typically diploid organisms, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes—one set inherited from each parent. During sexual reproduction, these animals produce gametes, which are the sex cells (sperm and eggs). The crucial aspect here is that gametes are haploid, containing only one set of chromosomes.
So, when looking at the options provided:
- a. haploid diploid
- b. haploid haploid
- c. diploid diploid
- d. diploid haploid
The correct answer is d. diploid haploid.
Explanation: In this context, ‘diploid’ refers to the state of the animal’s body cells, while ‘haploid’ refers to the gametes produced during reproduction. This differentiation is essential as it illustrates the process of meiosis, which halves the chromosome number to form gametes, ultimately allowing for genetic diversity when two haploid gametes fuse during fertilization.