Final answer:
A human body cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes and is therefore considered a diploid cell. These pairs include autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. Human gametes, on the other hand, are haploid cells with just one set of chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A human body cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes; it is therefore considered a diploid cell. This is because most human cells are somatic cells, which contain two sets of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent. Consequently, there are 23 pairs or 46 individual chromosomes in each somatic cell. These pairs include 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (either XX or XY), which determines the sex of the individual. In contrast, human gametes—sperm and eggs—are haploid cells, containing only one set of chromosomes or 23 unpaired chromosomes. The diploid condition ensures that when two haploid gametes merge, the resulting zygote restores the full chromosome complement.