LIFE SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -In humans, each cell normally contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46. Twenty-two of these pairs, called autosomes, look the same in both males and females. The 23rd pair, the sex chromosomes, differ between males and females.

Detailed explanation-2: -The 23rd pair of chromosomes are two special chromosomes, X and Y, that determine our sex. Females have a pair of X chromosomes (46, XX), whereas males have one X and one Y chromosomes (46, XY).

Detailed explanation-3: -It is important that human sperms and eggs have only 23 chromosomes because this way when fertilization occurs, it will form one full diploid cell, which will then divide via mitosis to form a full organism.

Detailed explanation-4: -*except sperm cells and egg cells in the ovaries which are “haploid” and have 23 chromosomes (with the 23rd being an X in the eggs, and either an X or a Y in the sperm), and not 46 “diploid” like other cells.