A cell that contains only one set of chromosomes is called what?

A cell that contains only one set of chromosomes is referred to as a haploid cell. In humans and many other organisms, the haploid condition is typically represented by gametes, such as sperm and egg cells. These cells are crucial for sexual reproduction because they combine during fertilization to form a diploid zygote, restoring the paired sets of chromosomes.

To elaborate, haploid cells have half the number of chromosomes compared to diploid cells, which have two sets. This reduction is essential for maintaining the stable number of chromosomes in a species across generations. When organisms reproduce sexually, the haploid cells play a key role in ensuring genetic diversity as they combine genetic material from two parents.

Diploid cells, in contrast, are those that contain two sets of chromosomes and are commonly found in somatic cells, which make up the majority of an organism's body. Somatic cells are not involved in reproduction. A spermatocyte is a specific type of diploid cell that undergoes meiosis to produce haploid sperm cells, but it is still considered diploid before this process.