Are gametes (egg and sperm) haploid or diploid?

Gametes, which include eggs and sperm, are haploid. This means that they contain only one set of chromosomes, which is half the typical number found in somatic cells. In humans, for example, somatic cells have 46 chromosomes (diploid), while gametes have only 23 chromosomes (haploid). This reduction in chromosome number is essential for sexual reproduction. When two gametes fuse during fertilization, they restore the diploid state in the resulting zygote, combining genetic material from both parents. This haploid nature of gametes is a key concept in understanding how genetic variation occurs in sexually reproducing organisms.