What is a haploid?

What is a haploid?

• A. An organism or cell having two complete sets of chromosomes.
• B. An organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes.
• C. A cell with half the normal number of chromosomes.
• D. A cell lacking chromosomes.

Answer: (D)

Haploid means having one complete set of chromosomes. In most organisms, the body cells are diploid, containing two sets, while the gametes (sperm and egg) are haploid, carrying a single set so that fertilization restores the paired chromosomes in the offspring. A cell with two complete sets is diploid, which is the usual state for non-reproductive cells. Saying haploid is half the normal number can describe the relationship to the diploid count, but the essential feature is one complete chromosome set. A cell lacking chromosomes has no genetic material, which is not what haploid describes.

Haploid means having one complete set of chromosomes. In most organisms, the body cells are diploid, containing two sets, while the gametes (sperm and egg) are haploid, carrying a single set so that fertilization restores the paired chromosomes in the offspring. A cell with two complete sets is diploid, which is the usual state for non-reproductive cells. Saying haploid is half the normal number can describe the relationship to the diploid count, but the essential feature is one complete chromosome set. A cell lacking chromosomes has no genetic material, which is not what haploid describes.