Imbecile caught in a biological connundrum!

[Gerald The Herald]

I know this is pretty much VERY basic biology, but it's been a few years since I last touched on it and it seems I've forgotten some points about the all-important ploidy.

What I CAN remember, however, is that Ploidy refers to the set number of homologous chromosomes in a biological cell or (2n).

Using that logic, a Crocus species' diploid integer(2n) would be 6, considering it's total chromatic number's of that same number 6,am I right?

However, when I get to Haploids, I stumble... if I can recall correctly, a haploid refers to the number of chromosomes in a gamete (Sex cell), which, using the law of distributive genetics, should USUALLY be 1/2 maternally obtained and the other half paternal. So therefore, (N) refers to the haploid number of an organism and, using the example of species "Crocus" it's somatic chromosome (N) should therefore be 3?

Then comes Mitosis, which I "think" is generally limited to Plantae and Animalia somatic cells for repair and growth. Mitosis (I presume) creates 2 diploid 'Daughter' cells whereas Meiosis (Cellular reduction)creates 4 Haploid 'daughter' cells used for sexual reproduction and is the basis of gamete production?

God, I need to revise. And I havn't even gotten to Tetrapolydeic and monopolydeic abnormalities, just wanted to clear my basics before I get slaughtered

[Gungalley]

I'm quite tired, so please excuse me when I don't understand the whole of your post. But yes, haploid is n, diploid is 2n. Most but not all organisms are diploid and hence have 2n chromosomes. in the case of down's syndrome, aneuploidy occured, and these people have 2n+1 chromosomes. IIRC the extra chromosome is an extra set of chromosome 21.

Somatic means non gametes. Therefore, they should be diploid, not haploid. For basics, jsut know that only gametes are haploids.

You are correct on the part of mitosis and meiosis. Sperm and eggs are haploid. For hte full cycle, check your notes or text. IMO, theres quite a lot of memory work there.