Final answer:
Most body cells of humans and other multicellular eukaryotes have two sets of each chromosome, known as diploid cells, with matching pairs of chromosomes called homologous chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In humans and other multicellular eukaryotes, most body cells have two sets of each chromosome, making them diploid. The matching pair of chromosomes is called homologous chromosomes. This means that each somatic cell contains two copies of each chromosome, one inherited from each parent.
In human cells that are not gametes, each cell is diploid, with two sets of chromosomes, and the matching pairs are called homologous chromosomes.
Most body cells of humans and other multicellular eukaryotes have two sets of each chromosome. Such cells are diploid, and the matching pair of chromosomes are called homologous chromosomes. Diploid cells, designated 2n, contain two matched sets of chromosomes, with one set inherited from each parent. In contrast, human gametes, or sex cells, such as sperm and eggs, are haploid with one set of chromosomes (n).
These homologous chromosomes are matched pairs containing the same genes in identical locations along their lengths. The term 'diploid' points to the presence of two complete sets of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell, giving it the full complement of genetic material for the organism. In humans, these somatic cells have 46 chromosomes in total, which represent 23 pairs, with one member of each pair coming from each parent. This configuration is important for the inheritance of traits and overall function of cellular and genetic operations.