How many total chromosomes do humans have?

Humans have a total of 46 chromosomes, which is established through various studies of human genetics. These chromosomes are organized into 23 pairs, where one chromosome of each pair comes from the mother and the other from the father. This total includes 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes, which determine an individual's sex: females have two X chromosomes while males have one X and one Y chromosome. The number 46 is fundamental in understanding human genetics, inheritance, and the overall structure of DNA, making it a crucial concept in biology.