Which of the following statements regarding X-chromosome inactivation in female mammalian cells is correct? A) Female cells express double the amount of X-linked gene products compared to male cells B) Generally, for X-linked genes, in female tissues 1/2 of the cells express paternal alleles and 1/2 express maternal alleles C) The Barr body present in interphase nuclei represents the inactive X chromosome and is present in both male and female somatic cells D) The number of Barr bodies in female somatic cells equals the number of X chromosomes present in the cell E) Female somatic cells have only one X chromosome per cell

The correct statement regarding X-chromosome inactivation in female mammalian cells is B) Generally, for X-linked genes, in female tissues 1/2 of the cells express paternal alleles and 1/2 express maternal alleles.

Here's why:

A) This is incorrect. Due to X-chromosome inactivation, female cells do not express double the amount of X-linked gene products compared to male cells.

B) This is correct. In female mammals, one of the two X chromosomes is randomly inactivated during embryonic development. This results in mosaicism where approximately half of the cells express the maternal X chromosome and the other half express the paternal X chromosome.

C) This is incorrect. The Barr body, which is the inactivated X chromosome, is present in female somatic cells but not in male somatic cells (as males have only one X chromosome which is active).

D) This is incorrect. The number of Barr bodies in a cell is always one less than the total number of X chromosomes. Therefore, in normal female cells with two X chromosomes, there is only one Barr body.

E) This is incorrect. Female somatic cells have two X chromosomes, one of which is inactivated and condensed into the Barr body.