Zygote is __________. (diploid/haploid)

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Gametes**: The zygote is formed when a male gamete (sperm) fuses with a female gamete (egg).

2. **Nature of Gametes**: Both the male and female gametes are haploid, meaning they each contain half the number of chromosomes. In humans, this is 23 chromosomes for each gamete.

3. **Fusion of Gametes**: When the male gamete (23 chromosomes) and the female gamete (23 chromosomes) fuse during fertilization, they combine their genetic material.

4. **Formation of Zygote**: The fusion of these two haploid gametes results in a zygote that contains a total of 46 chromosomes (23 from the male and 23 from the female).

5. **Conclusion on Zygote's Ploidy**: Since the zygote has 46 chromosomes, it is classified as diploid, which is represented as 2n (where n is the number of chromosomes in a haploid set).

**Final Answer**: Zygote is diploid.

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