OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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In the context of meiosis, what is a haploid cell?

A cell with two sets of chromosomes
A cell with one set of chromosomes
A cell with three sets of chromosomes
A cell with multiple sets of chromosomes

The correct answer is: A cell with one set of chromosomes

A haploid cell is characterized by having one set of chromosomes. In the context of meiosis, this is significant because meiosis is the process that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in haploid cells. In humans, for example, diploid cells contain two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent), while haploid cells, such as sperm and egg cells, contain only one set. This reduction is essential for sexual reproduction, ensuring that when two haploid gametes fuse during fertilization, they restore the diploid state in the resulting zygote. This mechanism is fundamental to maintaining the chromosome number across generations of organisms.