Ploidy is the number of sets of chromosomes in a biological cell.

Human sex cells (sperm and egg) have one complete set of chromosomes from the male or female parent. Sex cells, also called gametes, combine to produce somatic cells. Somatic cells, therefore, have twice as many chromosomes. The haploid number (n) is the number of chromosomes in a gamete. A somatic cell has twice that many chromosomes (2n).

Humans are diploid. A human somatic cell contains 46 chromosomes: 2 complete haploid sets, which make up 23 homologous chromosome pairs. However, many organisms have more than two sets of homologous chromosomes and are called polyploid.

The number of chromosomes in a single (non-homologous) set is called the monoploid number (x), and is distinct from the haploid number (n). Both numbers n, and x, apply to every cell of a given organism. For humans, x = n = 23, which is also written as 2n = 2x = 46. Bread wheat is an organism where x and n differ. It has six sets of chromosomes, two sets from each of three different diploid species that are its distant ancestors. The somatic cells are hexaploid, with six sets of chromosomes, 2n = 6x = 42. The gametes are both haploid and triploid, with three sets of chromosomes. The monoploid number x = 7, and the haploid number n = 21.

Brody Dalle (born Bree Joanna Alice Robinson on January 1, 1979) is an Australian-born American singer, songwriter and guitarist. She rose to fame as lead singer and guitarist of punk rock band The Distillers and currently fronts Spinnerette.

Dalle was intrigued by Cyndi Lauper and The Beatles as a child. At age 12, she discovered Nirvana and Hole, crucial early influences. Dalle's musical career began at 13 years old starting with guitar. She participated in Rock'n'Roll High School (RnRHS), a Melbourne feminist collective started by Stephanie Bourke. She became interested in Black Flag, Discharge, and Flipper. In 1995 at 16, her first band Sourpuss, played a set at Australia's Summersault Festival where she met Tim Armstrong, frontman of punk rock band Rancid. The two pursued a relationship. Armstrong was over 13 years her senior and Dalle initially lied about her age but the couple got engaged shortly after Dalle turned 18. She moved with Armstrong from Melbourne to Los Angeles, California and there founded The Distillers.

Shirley Ann Manson (born 26 August 1966) is a Scottish recording artist and actress, best known internationally as the lead singer of the alternative rock band Garbage. For much of her international career Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh to the United States to record with Garbage but now lives and works in Los Angeles. Manson gained media attention for her forthright style, rebellious attitude, and distinctive voice, which also won her fans throughout the world.

Manson's musical career began in her teens when she was approached to perform backing vocals and keyboards for Scottish band Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie. Quickly she developed into a prominent member of the group and developed a formidable stage presence. Manson was approached by her band's record label with the idea of launching her as a solo artist, and recorded an album with her band under the Angelfish name. After seeing Manson in an Angelfish video broadcast only once on MTV's 120 Minutes, Garbage invited Manson to record vocals on a few of their songs; she eventually co-wrote and co-produced an entire album with the band. The resulting self-titled debut, Garbage, was a worldwide hit, and was followed by three studio albums, including the multiple Grammy Award-nominated Version 2.0, and a greatest hits album. Garbage toured worldwide and sold 12 million record sales over ten years.