How many chromosomes are present in a typical human somatic cell?

How many chromosomes are present in a typical human somatic cell?

• A. 46 chromosomes
• B. 23 chromosomes
• C. 44 chromosomes
• D. 48 chromosomes

Answer: (A)

Somatic cells are diploid, carrying two complete chromosome sets—one from each parent. In humans, this means two copies of each chromosome, organized as twenty-two pairs of autosomes plus one pair of sex chromosomes. When you count all the chromosomes together, the total is forty-six. This is why a typical human somatic cell has forty-six chromosomes. Gametes contain only one chromosome set, which is why they have twenty-three chromosomes; fertilization then restores the full number in the resulting zygote. Having forty-four or forty-eight chromosomes would indicate an abnormality rather than a normal somatic cell.

Somatic cells are diploid, carrying two complete chromosome sets—one from each parent. In humans, this means two copies of each chromosome, organized as twenty-two pairs of autosomes plus one pair of sex chromosomes. When you count all the chromosomes together, the total is forty-six. This is why a typical human somatic cell has forty-six chromosomes. Gametes contain only one chromosome set, which is why they have twenty-three chromosomes; fertilization then restores the full number in the resulting zygote. Having forty-four or forty-eight chromosomes would indicate an abnormality rather than a normal somatic cell.