Haploid describes...

Haploid describes...

• A. An organism with multiple, varied chromosome sets.
• B. An organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes (n)
• C. Having no chromosomes
• D. An organism with two complete sets of chromosomes (2n)

Answer: (B)

Haploid describes a cell or organism with a single complete set of chromosomes (n). This is the form found in gametes, which are produced by meiosis so that fertilization between two gametes restores the full diploid number (2n) in the zygote. It’s not about having no chromosomes, nor about having two sets (that’s diploid), nor about having multiple sets (polyploid). For humans, haploid gametes contain 23 chromosomes.

Haploid describes a cell or organism with a single complete set of chromosomes (n). This is the form found in gametes, which are produced by meiosis so that fertilization between two gametes restores the full diploid number (2n) in the zygote. It’s not about having no chromosomes, nor about having two sets (that’s diploid), nor about having multiple sets (polyploid). For humans, haploid gametes contain 23 chromosomes.