Cells containing two sets of chromosomes are called

• A. Gamete
• B. Chromosome
• C. Diploid
• D. Carrier

Answer: (C)

Having two complete sets of chromosomes is the state called diploid. In many organisms, body or somatic cells contain homologous chromosome pairs—one chromosome from each parent—giving a total of two chromosome sets (2n). This is in contrast to gametes, which are haploid (n) and carry only one set, produced by meiosis. A chromosome itself is a single DNA-containing structure, not a description of how many sets a cell has. A carrier is someone who has a recessive allele for a trait but may not show it, again not about chromosome number. In humans, diploid somatic cells typically have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).