Diploiden

A diploid organism or cell is one that contains two complete sets of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent. The diploid number of chromosomes is denoted as 2n, where 'n' represents the number of chromosomes in a single set. Humans, for example, are diploid and have 2n = 46 chromosomes, meaning they have 23 pairs of chromosomes. This is in contrast to haploid organisms or cells, which possess only a single set of chromosomes (n). Gametes, such as sperm and egg cells, are haploid, ensuring that when they fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote restores the diploid number. The presence of two sets of chromosomes allows for genetic diversity through recombination during meiosis, the process of creating gametes. Diploidy is a fundamental characteristic of most eukaryotes.