• Question: How many chromosomes do humans have in each body cell?

    Asked by Charlotte to Anna, George, Jodi, Rob, Stefan on 18 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Jodi Schneider

      Jodi Schneider answered on 18 Nov 2014:

      Normal human cells have 23 pairs (so 46 chromosomes each). The exceptions?
      – sperm & egg cells (which have 23 each, so that they combine to make 46)
      – some genetic disorders.
      — For instance, people with Down’s syndrome have 47 chromosomes — Down’s syndrome is caused by having 3 copies of a particular chromosome, instead of the normal 2 copies.
      — Females with Turner’s syndrome have 45 chromosomes: they have just one X chromosome instead of two.

    • Photo: Rob Appleyard

      Rob Appleyard answered on 18 Nov 2014:

      Humans normally have 23 pairs of chromosomes per cell.

    • Photo: Stefan Lines

      Stefan Lines answered on 18 Nov 2014:

      Nice answer Jodi.

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