A normal human body cell (somatic cell) contains 46 chromosomes , arranged in 23 pairs.

Quick Scoop: Core Fact

  • Normal human cells are diploid , meaning they have 23 pairs of chromosomes for a total of 46.
  • Of these, 22 pairs are autosomes and 1 pair are sex chromosomes (XX or XY in most people).

Extra Note: Special Cases

  • Egg and sperm cells are haploid , so they carry just 23 single chromosomes (one from each pair), not 46.
  • Some genetic conditions involve an extra or missing chromosome (for example, Down syndrome usually involves an extra copy of chromosome 21, giving 47 total), but these are not considered the normal number.

TL;DR: In a normal human cell, there are 46 chromosomes, organized into 23 pairs.

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