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Multiple Choice
Which of the following human cells contain 46 chromosomes?
A
Somatic cells
B
Egg cells
C
Gametes
D
Sperm cells
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that human cells can be categorized into somatic cells and gametes. Somatic cells are all the cells forming the body except for the reproductive cells, while gametes are the reproductive cells (sperm and egg cells).
Recognize that somatic cells are diploid, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. In humans, this results in a total of 46 chromosomes.
Identify that gametes (sperm and egg cells) are haploid, meaning they contain only one set of chromosomes. This is because they are designed to combine during fertilization to form a diploid zygote.
Recall that during the process of meiosis, gametes are produced with half the number of chromosomes, which is 23 in humans, to ensure that when they combine, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of 46 chromosomes.
Conclude that somatic cells are the human cells that contain 46 chromosomes, as they are diploid, while gametes (egg and sperm cells) contain 23 chromosomes each, being haploid.