Horses and donkeys are separate species because their offspring, the mule, is infertile. Mules are not a separate species because their infertility, due to an odd number of chromosomes, prevents meiosis.
Cavalli e asini sono specie separate perché la loro prole, il mulo, è sterile. I muli non sono una specie separata perché la loro infertilità, dovuta a un numero dispari di cromosomi, impedisce la meiosi.
| Front | Explain why horses and donkeys are separate species and why mules are not given a scientific name and are not a separate species. |
|---|---|
| Back | Horses and donkeys can interbreed but the offspring (mule) is not fertile. Therefore they are separate species by definition. Mules are not a separate species because they are infertile (odd number of chromosomes so meiosis cannot happen) |
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