Answer:
C. 23 pairs of chromosomes
Explanation:
Human beings are sexually reproducing organisms that are produced as a result of
the fertilization of gametes. The cells in a human body can either be somatic or sex cells. Somatic cells are body cells and occupy majority of the cells in humans. Sex cells or gametes are only used during reproduction.
The somatic cells of humans contain 23 pairs of chromosomes or 46 chromosomes. This chromosomes undergo meiosis to produce gametes which contains half the number of the normal chromosomes i.e. haploid, 23 chromosomes.
Hence, when haploid male and female gametes (sperm and egg respectively) come together during fertilization, they produce a diploid cell with 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 chromosomes) i.e. 23 chromosomes in sperm + 23 chromosomes in egg = 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs in zygote.
Thus, most cells in humans except sex cells or gametes contain 23 pairs of chromosomes.
