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Multiple Choice
How many pairs of chromosomes are found in a typical human somatic cell?
A
22
B
46
C
23
D
24
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that a typical human somatic cell is diploid, meaning it contains two sets of chromosomes—one set inherited from each parent.
Recall that the total number of chromosomes in a human somatic cell is 46, which includes both autosomes and sex chromosomes.
Recognize that chromosomes are organized in pairs, so to find the number of pairs, you divide the total number of chromosomes by 2.
Set up the equation: number of pairs = total chromosomes \div 2, or mathematically, $\text{pairs} = \frac{46}{2}$.
Calculate the division to find the number of chromosome pairs, which represents the number of homologous chromosome pairs in a typical human somatic cell.