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How many chromosomes are present in a typical human egg cell?
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A typical human egg cell, or ovum, contains 23 chromosomes.
In humans, somatic (body) cells are diploid, meaning they contain 46 chromosomes organized into 23 pairs. During the specialized process of meiosis, these cells undergo division to produce gametesâthe sex cellsâwhich are haploid. This means the egg cell receives only one set of chromosomes, or half the number found in a typical body cell.123
When fertilization occurs, the egg fuses with a sperm cell, which also contributes 23 chromosomes, thereby restoring the full diploid number of 46 in the resulting zygote.2