Chromosome counts differ greatly and unsystematically between species (Talk.Origins)

Claim CB141:

DNA and chromosome counts differ widely between different organisms. This dissimilarity contradicts the similarity we expect from common descent. Chromosome counts should be either the same because the different forms of life descended from a common ancestor (Pathlights n.d.), or more complex as organisms get more complex (Thompson and Butt 2001). Neither is the case. For example, humans have 46 chromosomes, some ferns have 512, and some gulls have 12.

Source:
 * Thompson, Bert and Kyle Butt, 2001. Creation vs. evolution--[Part II, Lesson 6. Apologetics Press, Montgomery, AL.]
 * Pathlights, n.d. Chromosome comparisons.
 * Williams, Alexander, 2003. Copying confusion. Creation 25(4) (Sept.): 15.

CreationWiki response:

While it is agreed that this is an erroneous claim, Talk Origins wrongfully includes Williams’ Answers in Genesis article in the list. Note that within the claim they reference Thompson and Pathlight but not Williams. Williams’ article is about Gene duplication, and he in no way makes this claim. In fact most of his comparisons of gene count are between species of the same Created kind. Since Creationists consider species of the same Created kind to have originated from common ancestors, Williams actually contradicts this claim.

Los recuentos de cromosomas difieren mucho y de manera no sistemática entre especies (Talk.Origins) A contagem de cromossomos difere muito e de forma não sistemática entre as espécies (Talk.Origins)