An organism has 3 pairs of chromosomes. how many different combinations of chromosomes are possible as a result of meiosis if crossing over or chromosomal mutations do not occur?

2^3= 8 possible combinations

Explanation:

Mendel discovered in his experiments that a pair of chromosome in an organism consists of two similar but non-identical chromosomes called HOMOLOGOUS CHROMOSOMES in which each comes from each parent.

During meiosis, each homologous chromosomes get sorted into gametes in accordance to Mendel's law of segregation and independent assortment.

For each chromosome, a variant form of gene called allele is gets randomly sorted into gametes to form 8 possible combinations for an organism with three (3) pair of chromosomes.

Possible number of combination of gametes is determined by the formula 2^n, where n is the number of character or chromosome pair in this case.

Hence 2^3= 8 possible chromosomal combinations of gametes produced by meiosis.