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Multiple Choice
How many homologous chromosome pairs are present in a normal human somatic cell?
A
24 pairs
B
22 pairs
C
46 pairs
D
23 pairs
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that a somatic cell is any cell of the body except sperm and egg cells. These cells are diploid, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.
Recognize that humans have a total of 46 chromosomes in their somatic cells. These are organized into 23 pairs.
Each pair of chromosomes is called a homologous pair. Homologous chromosomes are similar in size, shape, and genetic content.
In a normal human somatic cell, there are 22 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosomes, making a total of 23 homologous pairs.
Therefore, the correct number of homologous chromosome pairs in a normal human somatic cell is 23 pairs.