Question

a human cell containing 22 autosomes and a y chromosome is...

a sperm.

a zygote.

a somatic cell of a male.

an egg.

Explanation:

• Human somatic cells (body cells) have 46 chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes + 2 sex chromosomes). A male's somatic cells have \(XY\) sex chromosomes. So a somatic cell of a male has 44 autosomes (\(22\times2\)) + \(XY\), not 22 autosomes + \(Y\).
• A zygote is formed by the fusion of sperm and egg. It has 46 chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes + 2 sex chromosomes: \(XX\) or \(XY\)).
• An egg (female gamete) has 22 autosomes + \(X\) chromosome.
• Sperm (male gamete) is haploid. It has 22 autosomes + either \(X\) or \(Y\) chromosome. So a cell with 22 autosomes and a \(Y\) chromosome is a sperm.

Answer:

A. a sperm.