Algonquin College Health Program Assessment (AC-HPAT) Practice Exam

Which of the following statements is true about diploid cells?

1. They have a single set of chromosomes

2. They are found only in gametes

3. They normally result from the fusion of haploid cells

4. They divide through binary fission

The correct answer is: They normally result from the fusion of haploid cells

Diploid cells are characterized by having two sets of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent. The statement that diploid cells normally result from the fusion of haploid cells accurately reflects the biological process of fertilization. In sexual reproduction, haploid gametes—sperm and egg—fuse during fertilization to form a diploid zygote. This zygote then undergoes cell division and development, leading to the formation of a diploid organism. The other statements do not accurately describe diploid cells. They do not have a single set of chromosomes, as that would define haploid cells. Diploid cells are not limited to gametes, as they are present in somatic cells of organisms. Additionally, diploid cells do not divide through binary fission, which is a form of asexual reproduction typically seen in prokaryotes. Instead, they undergo mitosis for cellular division. Thus, the statement about the fusion of haploid cells provides the correct understanding of how diploid cells originate.