Define reek. reek synonyms, reek pronunciation, reek translation, English dictionary definition of reek. intr.v. reeked , reekÂ·ing , reeks 1. To give off a strong unpleasant odor: Grandma, who reeks of face powder and lilac water . 2. To be pervaded by...
How many chromosomes do humans have? The typical number of chromosomes in a human cell is 46: 23 pairs, holding an estimated total of 20,000 to 25,000 genes. One set of 23 chromosomes is inherited from the biological mother (from the egg), and the other set is inherited from the biological father (from the sperm).
Half the chromosomes go to one end of the cell, and the other half go to the other end, at which point the cell splits in two. According to HowStuffWorks, human beings have 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs of chromosomes. During meiosis, which is similar to mitosis but occurs in sex cells, each new cell contains only 23 chromosomes.