EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Haploid refers to the presence of a single set of chromosomes in an organism’s cells. Sexually reproducing organisms are diploid (having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent). In humans, only the egg and sperm cells are haploid.

Detailed explanation-2: -Gametes contain half the chromosomes contained in normal diploid cells of the body, which are also known as somatic cells. Haploid gametes are produced during meiosis, which is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in a parent diploid cell by half.

Detailed explanation-3: -What is a haploid plant? Haploid plants originate from gametes (or gamete-like cells) that do not go through fertilization, but can still generate a viable individual. Therefore, haploids contain only the chromosome set found after meiosis in male (sperm cells) or female (egg cells) gametes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Examples of haploid cells are gametes (male or female germ cells). Examples of diploid cells include blood cells, skin cells and muscle cells. These cells are known as somatic cells.

Detailed explanation-5: -Every cell in the human body contains 23 pairs of such chromosomes; our diploid number is therefore 46, our ‘haploid’ number 23. Of the 23 pairs, 22 are known as autosomes.