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haploid

noun

(Science: Cell Biology, Genetics)

1. (noun) a cell or an organism having a single set of chromosomes

2. (adjective) pertaining to only one complete set of chromosomes

3. it is symbolized by n

For instance, a human germ cell (a sperm or an egg cell) is haploid, which means it contains only one of each of the 23 chromosomes of the human genome, or it only has half the diploid (2n) number of a human somatic cell (which is 46). Gametes being haploid are essential particularly during fertilization. The union of two sex cells, each with only haploid number of chromosomes, results in a diploid zygote. The integrity of chromosomal number throughout generations is eventually preserved.