Meaning & use
haploid
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparabletechnicalbiology
Having a single set of chromosomes, as in sperm or egg cells.
Grammar: Used before a noun (a haploid cell) or after a linking verb (The cell is haploid).
Patterns
- haploid cell
- haploid organism
- haploid nucleus
In humans, sperm and egg cells are haploid, containing 23 chromosomes.
The haploid stage of the plant's life cycle produces gametes.
After meiosis, the resulting cells are haploid.
Common combinations
- haploid cell
- A haploid cell has only one set of chromosomes.
- haploid number
- The haploid number for humans is 23.
- haploid organism
- Some fungi are haploid for most of their life cycle.
Synonyms and how they differ
- monoploid
- Also means having a single set of chromosomes, but often used when the basic chromosome number is not the same as the haploid number.
Opposites
Word family
- haploidy noun
- The state of being haploid.
Commonly confused: haploid or diploid? haploid or haplotype?
haploid vs diploid
Diploid means having two sets of chromosomes (like most human cells), while haploid means having only one set.
haploid vs haplotype
A haplotype is a group of genes inherited together; haploid describes a cell with one set of chromosomes.
Practice
In biology, which cell is haploid?
Choose one answer.
Egg cells (and sperm cells) are haploid, meaning they have one set of chromosomes. Skin, muscle, and liver cells are diploid, with two sets.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “haploid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.