A haploid human cell contains 23 chromosomes. This is half the number of chromosomes found in a diploid cell, which contains 46 chromosomes in total.
To explain further, humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, one set inherited from each parent, totaling to 46 chromosomes in diploid cells, such as those found in most of the body’s tissues. However, during the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells), the cells go through a process called meiosis that reduces the chromosome number by half. This results in haploid cells, which only have one set of 23 chromosomes.
Each of the 23 chromosomes in haploid cells consists of one copy of the genetic material. This arrangement is crucial for sexual reproduction, as the fusion of two haploid cells during fertilization restores the diploid number, allowing for genetic variation and the continuation of species.