Basing on the number of sets of chromosomes the somatic cells are differentiated as Haploid cells and Diploid cells.
Haploid cells:
- The sex cells (sperms and ova) of a diploid eukaryote cell contain half the number of chromosomal sets found in the somatic cells.
- These cells are known as Haploid (n) cells.
- A haploid set of chromosome is also known as Genome.
Diploid cells:
- Each somatic cell of the eukaryote contains one set of chromosomes inherited from the maternal (female) parent and a comparable set of chromosomes (called homologous chromosomes) from the paternal (male) parent.
- So the number of chromosomes in a dual set of a diploid somatic cell is called the diploid number (2n).
- Most of the eukaryotes are diploid.
- The fertilization process restores the diploid number of a diploid species.
Haploid and Diploid cells:
- Haploid cells have one set of chromosomes, denoted by n.
- Diploid cells have 2 sets of chromosomes, denoted by 2n.