#'s of chromosomes in human cells

[Patti M]

Help please! I am a mom trying to help my kid with his Bio project and I am trying to remember some facts- Is it true that all human cells (for ex-skin,stomach,liver,kidneys,etc...) all have 46 chromo's? Also, is this also true of the egg and sperm cells? That is the one I cannot remember. Thanks. A Lost Mom

[biostudent84]

Yes. With the exception of sperm and ova, all cells have 46 chromosomes, or 23 chromosome pairs.

Sperm and ova only have 23 individual chromosomes. When they combine with each other to form a zygote, their individual chromosomes pair up and you get the 23 pairs, or 46 total.

Kyle

[adidasty]

yeah with the exception of mutated somatic cells or cells with barr bodies, or in cases of aneuploidy all human somatic cells contain 46 chromosomes. of course gametes are haploid and have only one set of alleles, so theyre 23.

[Patti M]

Thank you both for your replies. It is reassuring to know I haven't totally lost my knowledge from the past.

[Miko B.]

Thank you too for answering "the lost mom" I am also taking a biology class and couldn't figure this 46 vs. 23 chromosome thing out until I just read it!

Appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miko B.