eli5: How does reproduction work if we need 46 chromosomes to function, gametes have 23 chromosomes, but traits are inherited from both parents?

Question

I understand that our chromosomes come from adding the ones in our parents’ sperm and egg cells, but we don’t have the exact chromosomes from our parents gametes, right? But once they combine genetic information, how does that still end up as 2 separate chromosomes?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Both parents pass down 23 chromosomes. Which means you get all 46 chromosomes total from both parents.