In humans, each cell normally contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46. Twenty-two of these pairs, called autosomes, look the same in both males and females. read more
Chromosomes are long threads of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, found in the nuclei of animal and plant cells. DNA in turn is the genetic information for making new copies of an organism or part of one. read more
There are 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in a human body cell with the exception of the sex cells. One of each pair is inherited from the mother's egg, the other from the father's sperm. When the sperm and egg unite in fertilization, they create a single cell, or zygote, with 46 chromosomes. read more