Which type of cell contains the haploid chromosome number?

The type of cell that contains the haploid chromosome number is the gamete. Gametes are specialized reproductive cells involved in sexual reproduction, and they are produced through a process called meiosis. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division, resulting in four haploid cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes compared to the original cell.

In humans, for example, gametes are sperm and egg cells, each containing 23 chromosomes, which is half of the diploid number of 46 found in somatic (soma) cells. When gametes unite during fertilization, they create a diploid zygote with the full set of chromosomes restored at 46. Understanding that gametes are responsible for maintaining the chromosome number across generations helps clarify the importance of haploidy in the context of sexual reproduction.

Other types of cells, such as soma cells, stem cells, and diploid cells, contain two sets of chromosomes, which is why they do not represent the haploid chromosome number.