What does haploid and diploid cells mean?

The sex cells or gametes contain haploid cells that means that these cells have one set of chromosomes, that is, 23 chromosomes. There are only 23 chromosomes in the human egg and 23 chromosomes in the human sperm. These cells are formed after they go through a special cell division called meiosis. Therefore, the progeny inherits one set of chromosome from the mother and one set of chromosome from the father. After fertilization, they form a diploid zygote. This diploid zygote develops into a diploid species.

Diploid cells have two homologous copies of each chromosome inherited from the mother and father. All mammals are diploid organisms with the exception of a few species. There are 46 chromosomes in human diploid cells and the human haploid cells have 23 chromosomes. The diploid cells are indicated by 2n = 2x and haploid cells are indicated by n, where n = number of chromosomes and x = monoploid number.