Diploid organisms have two copies of each chromosome. The diploid number is the total number of chromosomes in somatic or non-germ cells. Human somatic cells for example have 23 chromosomes passed on from the mother and 23 from the father for a total of 46 chromosomes, two copies of each. The human diploid number is 46, the total number of chromosomes in a somatic cell. Germ cells, also called gametes are specialized cells for reproduction of multi-cellular organisms. These cells are known as haploid meaning they contain only one copy of each chromosome instead of the usual two copies in somatic cells.