Sex - Basic Aspects of Human Sexuality

The Role of Chromosomes: What are chromosomes?

The human body consists of cells, and each of its cells contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, i.e. a total of 46 chromosomes (gr. chroma: color und soma: body). They are thread-like parts of the cell’s inner core (the cell nucleus), which can be dyed and thus made visible under a microscope. They carry the genetic information, and they also play a decisive role in determining a person’s sex.

Set of chromosomes. Each human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, only one pair of these pairs determines a person’s sex. The chromosomes shown here are from a cell of a male body (combination: XY).