If a person has 46 chromosomes, how many chromosome pairs do they have?

If a person has 46 chromosomes, how many chromosome pairs do they have?

• A. 23
• B. 46
• C. 23 pairs
• D. 46 pairs

Answer: (C)

Humans have chromosomes in pairs in most body cells. The total number of chromosomes is twice the number of chromosome pairs, because each pair has two homologous chromosomes. So if there are 46 chromosomes, there are 46 ÷ 2 = 23 pairs. In humans, that’s 22 autosome pairs plus 1 sex-chromosome pair (X and Y in males, X and X in females).

Humans have chromosomes in pairs in most body cells. The total number of chromosomes is twice the number of chromosome pairs, because each pair has two homologous chromosomes. So if there are 46 chromosomes, there are 46 ÷ 2 = 23 pairs. In humans, that’s 22 autosome pairs plus 1 sex-chromosome pair (X and Y in males, X and X in females).