total number of chromosomes contained in a mature sperm or ovum
Best Answer: In humans, you would find 23 chromosomes in a sperm cell; 23 chromosomes in an egg cell; and 46 chromosomes in a white blood cell. All human body cells contain 46 chromosomes (two sets of 23 chromosomes). Only the gametes (i.e., the sperm & eggs) contain 23 chromosomes (one set of 23 chromosomes) because two gametes combine to form a new person with 46 chromosomes in his body cells. Body cells grow and reproduce by the process of mitosis.
During sexual reproduction, fertilization of the ovum (n, 23 chromosomes) by the sperm (n, 23 chromosomes) restores the diploid number and creates a zygote (2n, 46) (awww..) that divides and grows by mitosis to form a multicellular human.