Here's why:
* Diploid: Normal body cells (somatic cells) in mammals are diploid, containing two sets of chromosomes (one from the mother and one from the father).
* Meiosis: Gametes are produced through meiosis, a specialized cell division process that reduces the chromosome number by half. This ensures that when a sperm and egg fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes.