Human egg cells contain one set of 23 chromosomes. Because they contain half of the 46 chromosomes contained in body cells (2 sets of 23), the egg cells are said to be haploid. 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
Since a human egg cell is a reproductive cell (sex cell), it would contain only half the number of chromosomes as a body cell. Thus, a human egg cell would have 23 chromosomes. A sex cell has half the number of chromosomes for a good reason. read more