Question

Assertion: The male ants are developed by parthenogenesis from unfertilized eggs. 
Reason: The sex of offspring depends on the type of sperm that fertilizes the ovum, which is not relevant since male ants develop through haploid parthenogenesis, which does not involve fertilization.

• A. A and R are true. R is correct explanation for A
• B. A and R are true. But R is not correct explanation for A
• C. A is true. But R is false
• D. A is false. But R is true

Hint:

Ant reproduction can feature both sexual and asexual processes, which are fascinating subjects in entomology.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To solve the problem, we need to analyze the assertion and reason related to the development of male ants and the sex determination of offspring.

1. Understanding the Assertion and Reason:

Assertion (A): Male ants are developed by parthenogenesis from unfertilized eggs. Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction where offspring develop from an unfertilized egg. Male ants, in many species, are indeed produced by this method.

Reason (R): The sex of offspring depends on the type of sperm that fertilizes the ovum. This statement is true for many species, but not for ants, as ants use parthenogenesis for producing males. The sex determination in ants involves a different mechanism, where fertilized eggs result in females and unfertilized eggs result in males, without the need for sperm for the males.

2. Analyzing the Truth of the Statements:
- The assertion is true, as male ants do indeed develop from unfertilized eggs through parthenogenesis.
- The reason is false in the context of ants. While the statement is true for many animals where the sperm determines the sex, ants have a different mechanism for sex determination. In ants, males develop from unfertilized eggs, and females develop from fertilized eggs, so sperm is not responsible for the male offspring in ants.

3. Conclusion:
Based on the analysis, the correct answer is:

Final Answer:
The correct option is (C) A is true. But R is false.