In a man, is the normal number of chromosomes 46 or 44?

The chromosomal number of man is 46 and thus the species specific number. However, the number is also expressed in terms of autosomes and sex chromosomes as 44 +2 = 46. They are also expressed in terms of pairs as 22 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosomes as X & Y. read more

If by chance 46 chromosome humans were spared, then we have our current number of chromosomes by chance. And if something similar were to happen in the near future and only descendants of the 44 chromosome man survived, then humans would end up with 44 chromosomes. read more

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. The 23rd pair, the sex chromosomes, differ between males and females. Females have two copies of the X chromosome, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. read more