Question

When a horse mates with a donkey, it produces a mule. What evidence indicates that horses and donkeys are not the same species? A. The resulting mule, once it is mature, can produce offspring of its own. B. The mule can mate with a donkey to produce offspring. C. The mule and a horse would be able to mate and produce offspring. D. The mule that results from this mating, is sterile and not able to produce offspring of its own.

Answer 1

The evidence that indicates that horses and donkeys are not the same species is:

D. The mule that results from this mating, is sterile and not able to produce offspring of its own.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mules are result of the mating between a male donkey and a female horse (a mare). Donkeys have 62 chromosomes, and horses have 64. Mules have a mixture of that - 63 chromosomes. That is what prevents the chromosomes from pairing up. As a consequence, mules end up not being able to create embryos properly, which makes them sterile.