Neither gender has only 23 chromosomes. Human beings typically have 46 chromosomes, organized into 23 pairs. However, sex cells (sperm and egg) have 23 single chromosomes each.
Understanding Chromosomes
- Autosomes: There are 22 pairs of autosomes (non-sex chromosomes). These are numbered by size.
- Sex Chromosomes: The remaining pair are the sex chromosomes, which determine biological sex.
- Females have two X chromosomes (XX).
- Males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY).
- The reference states, "The 23rd pair, the sex chromosomes, differ between males and females. Females have two copies of the X chromosome, while males have one X and one Y chromosome."
Chromosome Count in Regular Cells vs. Sex Cells
- Regular body cells have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs): One set from each parent (23 from mom and 23 from dad).
- Sex cells, also known as gametes (sperm and egg), have only 23 single chromosomes each. This is to ensure that when sperm and egg combine during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the normal 46 chromosomes.
The Question's Implication
The question incorrectly assumes that a gender only has 23 chromosomes. The chromosomes determine the biological sex of individuals, not the other way around. Both sexes have the same number of total chromosomes in each cell (46). It is the combination of sex chromosomes (XX for females and XY for males) that makes the difference. However, sperm and egg each contain 23 single chromosomes.
