chromosome number
Species' DNA tally
Chromosome number is the count of chromosomes normally found in the cells of a particular species.
In humans, the chromosome number is 46, arranged as 23 pairs.
This number is remarkably consistent within a species but varies widely across organisms—fruit flies have 8, dogs have 78.
Sex cells (eggs and sperm) contain half the chromosome number, which is restored when they combine during fertilization.
- haploidSingle chromosome complement
- cytogeneticsChromosome structure and inheritance science
- Down syndromeThird chromosome 21 present
- karyotypeOrganized chromosome display
- genetic testingAnalysis for inherited disorders
meiosis · trisomy · cell division · cell cycle · fertilization · spindle · 46 · doubling · species · DNA · diploid · crossing over · genetic diversity · genetic variation · breeding · pairs · heredity · sperm
- Cytogeneticskaryotyping, karyotype, autosomes, G-banding, FISH
- chromosomescentromere, chromatin, telomerase, telomere, long arm
- geneticsDNA, allele, genotype, genes, gene