how many chromosomes does a mature egg have?
A human body cell would have 46 chromosomes. Since a human egg cell is a reproductive cell (sex cell), it would contain only half the number of chromosomes as a body cell. Thus, a human egg cell would have 23 chromosomes. A sex cell has half the number of chromosomes for a good reason. When two sex cells reproduce, they combine to form double the number of chromosomes. So when two cells with 23 chromosomes each reproduce, the offspring would have 46 chromosomes.
Human egg cells contain one set of 23 chromosomes. Because they contain half of the 46 chromosomes contained in body cells (2 sets of 23), the egg cells are said to be haploid. Human egg cells contain one set of 23 chromosomes. Because they contain half of the 46 chromosomes contained in body cells (2 sets of 23), the egg cells are said to be haploid.