What term describes having two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent?

What term describes having two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent?

• A. Haploid
• B. Diploid
• C. Monoploid
• D. Polyploid

Answer: (B)

Having two copies of each chromosome, one inherited from each parent, is described as diploid. This is a characteristic of somatic cells in many organisms, including humans, where the normal chromosome number is represented as 2n. In diploid organisms, the pairs of chromosomes consist of homologous chromosomes, which are similar in structure and size but can carry different versions of a gene, known as alleles. In contrast, haploid refers to cells that contain only one complete set of chromosomes, such as gametes (sperm and eggs) in sexually reproducing organisms, represented as n. Monoploid is sometimes used interchangeably with haploid, emphasizing a single set of chromosomes especially in the context of gamete formation. Polyploid refers to organisms or cells that have more than two sets of chromosomes, which is common in certain plants and can result in increased genetic variation and adaptation. Understanding these terms is fundamental to grasping concepts related to cell division and inheritance in genetics.

Having two copies of each chromosome, one inherited from each parent, is described as diploid. This is a characteristic of somatic cells in many organisms, including humans, where the normal chromosome number is represented as 2n. In diploid organisms, the pairs of chromosomes consist of homologous chromosomes, which are similar in structure and size but can carry different versions of a gene, known as alleles.

In contrast, haploid refers to cells that contain only one complete set of chromosomes, such as gametes (sperm and eggs) in sexually reproducing organisms, represented as n. Monoploid is sometimes used interchangeably with haploid, emphasizing a single set of chromosomes especially in the context of gamete formation. Polyploid refers to organisms or cells that have more than two sets of chromosomes, which is common in certain plants and can result in increased genetic variation and adaptation. Understanding these terms is fundamental to grasping concepts related to cell division and inheritance in genetics.