Chromosomes. Normal human chromosomes visualized by a technique called spectral karyotyping (SKY). The complete set of chromosomes of an organism is known as the karyotype. Humans have 46 chromosomes in most cells, consisting of 23 pairs made up of one from each parent. Chromosomes contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which encodes genetic information (in sections called genes) that is passed from parents to their offspring. DNA is stored in the nuclei of cells.