If a sexual diploid female ($2n$) of *Lepidophyma flavimaculatum* is crossed with a male, what ploidy level characterizes the typical sexual offspring?
Answer
Diploidy ($2n$)
When reproduction occurs sexually in *Lepidophyma flavimaculatum*, involving the fusion of gametes from both a male and a female parent, the resulting offspring typically revert to or maintain the diploid state, denoted as $2n$. This contrasts sharply with the outcomes of asexual reproduction pathways within the genus, which often lead to polyploidy such as triploidy or tetraploidy. The maintenance of diploidy through sexual reproduction ensures genetic recombination but follows standard Mendelian inheritance patterns involving the combination of maternal and paternal genetic material.
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