Advanced Placement (AP) Biology Practice Exam

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What does haploid refer to in terms of chromosome sets?

Having two sets of chromosomes
Having unpaired chromosomes
Having no chromosomes
Having one set of chromosomes

The correct answer is: Having one set of chromosomes

Haploid refers to a cell or organism that has one complete set of chromosomes. In many organisms, particularly in the context of sexual reproduction, haploids are significant because they represent the gametes (sperm and egg cells) that combine during fertilization to form a diploid zygote, which has two sets of chromosomes—one from each parent. A haploid set means that, instead of the usual two copies of each chromosome found in a diploid cell, haploid cells only have one copy of each chromosome. This condition is essential for maintaining the correct chromosome number across generations, as the fusion of two haploid gametes during reproduction results in a diploid organism, restoring the paired condition of the chromosomes.