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In genetics, haploidy refers to a cell or organism having a single set of unpaired chromosomes. This is in contrast to diploidy, where cells have two sets of chromosomes, typically one inherited from each parent.12

Haploid cells, such as gametes (sperm and egg cells), are produced through a specialized cell division process called meiosis. When two haploid gametes fuse during fertilization, they restore the diploid number of chromosomes, forming a zygote that develops into a new organism. In many simple organisms like bacteria, the entire life cycle is completed within a single generation of haploid cells. However, in plants, life cycles often involve alternating between haploid and diploid generations.324

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