Cells are the basis of the structural components of any living organism and are divided primarily into mitosis and meiosis. These two ways give two types of cells (diploid and haploid) usually present in most eukaryotic organisms.
The cells with two homologous pairs of chromosomes that form almost all the organs of higher eukaryotes are diploid cells.
Similarly, those cells with only a set of a chromosome that forms the germ line cells are haploid cells. Haploid means half, so haploid cells have half the number of chromosomes.
Chromosomes: These are the thread-like structures present inside the nucleus of plant and animal cells which are made up of proteins and a single DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that are passed down from parent cells (mother cells) to their offspring (daughter cells).
Difference Between haploid and diploid cells
The differences between haploid and diploid cells are as follows:
| Haploid Cells | Diploid cells. |
| These are formed after meiosis cell division. | These are created after mitosis cell division. |
| The number of chromosomes in haploid cells is 1n that is, the cell has only one set of complete chromosomes. | The number of chromosomes in the diploid cells is 2n that is, the cell has two sets of complete chromosomes. |
| The daughter cells are not identical to the mother cells. | The daughter cells are identical to the mother cells. |
| In developed organisms, haploid cells are present in the germination cells like sex cells. | Likewise, the diploid cells are present in all the other cells except sex cells in developed organisms. |
| Examples; include male and female gametes. | Examples; include blood, muscle, skin, and all the body’s other cells. They are commonly known as somatic cells. |
Mitosis is the cell division in which the mother cell (parent) divides into two daughter cells (offspring) identical to the mother cell. In mitosis cell division, the DNA splits into two halves. Whereas meiosis is the cell division in which the mother cell (parent) divides into four daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes.
Reference:
- Chromosomes Fact Sheet. Genome.gov. Retrieved 6 July 2022, from https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Chromosomes-Fact-Sheet.
- haploid | Learn Science at Scitable. Nature.com. Retrieved 6 July 2022, from https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/haploid-309/.
- Diploid. Genome.gov. Retrieved 6 July 2022, from https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Diploid.
- Haploid. Genome.gov. Retrieved 6 July 2022, from https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/haploid.
