Final answer:
Each liver cell, being a somatic cell, contains two complete sets of DNA molecules, corresponding to the 23 pairs of chromosomes. DNA quantity in a cell remains constant, but cell diversity in function and structure is due to differential gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of DNA molecules you would expect to find in one of your liver cells is generally two, as each cell in your body, aside from exceptions like red blood cells and some immune cells, contains the same DNA in the form of 46 chromosomes. Each chromosome is present as a pair (one from each parent), which means there are 23 pairs of chromosomes, hence two complete sets of DNA. Liver cells are somatic cells and thus contain a diploid set of chromosomes with DNA.
DNA damage, occurring at a rate of 1,000 to 1,000,000 molecular lesions per cell per day, can affect the stability and functioning of cells but generally does not change the number of DNA molecules in a cell. Cells have mechanisms to repair such damage to maintain their genetic integrity. However, structural differences between various types of cells, such as liver cells and eye cells, are not due to a difference in DNA quantity, but due to the specific genes that are expressed (turned on or off) in each cell type, determining each cell's function and characteristics.