The human genome is DNA organized as 23 chromosomes including 22 autosomes (named 1-22), and one sex chromosome (either X or Y). Humans are diploid, with each somatic cell consisting of two sets of 23 chromosomes, one paternally inherited (blue) and one maternally inherited (pink). The Y chromosome is necessarily paternally inherited. The mitochondrial genome (mt) is derived solely from mitochondria in the ova and therefore exhibits exclusive matrilineal inheritance.
