Gametes vs. Zygotes
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 16.2.2
Gametes and Zygotes
During sexual reproduction, gamete nuclei fuse to form a zygote. There is an important difference between the nuclei of these types of cell.
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Gamete nuclei
- Gamete nuclei are haploid.
- This means they contain half the number of chromosomes found in a normal cell.
- This is because they contain one complete set of chromosomes.
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Zygote nuclei
- Zygote nuclei are diploid.
- This means they contain two complete sets of chromosomes.
- This is because they have one set of chromosomes from each parent.
- In humans, each diploid cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes.
Test yourself on Gametes vs. Zygotes
Are zygote nuclei haploid or diploid?
How many pairs of chromosomes do human diploid cells have?