Question

14. How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have? Why do you think there are pairs?

Answer 1

1. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes--22 pairs of numbered chromosomes, called autosomes, and one pair of sex chromosomes, X and Y. Each cell in the human body contains 23 pairs of such chromosomes; hence our diploid number is 46, the number 'singularity' is 23.

2. This is because our chromosomes exist in matching pairs - with one chromosome of each being inherited from the biological parent.

Answer 2

Humans have a total of 46 chromosomes but they are split up into 23 pairs. They are in pairs because when a female and male mated they linked together 2 chromosomes as called a “pair” these are also known as inherited traits.