<P> Ploidy (/ ˈplɔɪdi /) is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes . </P> <P> Somatic cells, tissues and individuals can be described according to the number of sets present (the ploidy level): monoploid (1 set), diploid (2 sets), triploid (3 sets), tetraploid (4 sets), pentaploid (5 sets), hexaploid (6 sets), heptaploid or septaploid (7 sets), etc . The generic term polyploid is used to describe cells with three or more chromosome sets . </P> <P> Humans are diploid organisms, carrying two complete sets of chromosomes: one set of 23 chromosomes from their father and one set of 23 chromosomes from their mother . The two sets combined provide a full complement of 46 chromosomes . This total number of chromosomes is called the chromosome number . The zygotic number is defined as the number of chromosomes in zygotic cells . Human zygotes are diploid, hence with a zygotic number of 46 . </P> <P> When a species has a varying chromosome number, e.g. a diploid and tetraploid form, the chromosome number is called diploid number in the diploid form, and tetraploid number in the tetraploid form . </P>

How many chromosomes does a human diploid cell have