are eggs haploid or diploid?
how many sets of chromosomes does each contain?
2007-03-10 04:13:04 · 2 answers · asked by sierra 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
An unfertilized ovum (egg) is haploid. In humans, it would have 23 chromosomes (our haploid number is 23).
2007-03-10 04:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eggs must have half the original number of chromosomes.
For people:
A person's cells are diploid. The cells have two of every kind of chromosome = 23 pairs = 46 total chromosome.
A gamete, or reproductive cell, must be haploid. The eggs or sperms have one of every kind of chromosome = 23. This means an egg has one set of chromosomes.
This all works out because an egg and a sperm join, putting each of their single sets of chromosomes together into one cell. The resulting fertilized egg, or zygote, has two sets of chromosomes, two of every kind, and develops into a diploid person, just like the parents were.
2007-03-10 12:21:00 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋