The number of cells in a human body varies depending on age and sex. A new analysis of more than 1,500 papers revealed that the average adult male human has around 36 trillion cells, while adult females have 28 trillion and 10-year-old children have about 17 trillion. This estimate comes from a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in September 2023.
The study analyzed 60 different types of human tissues to arrive at these estimates. The researchers used a variety of methods to count cells, including microscopy, flow cytometry, and DNA sequencing.
These findings are significant because they provide a more accurate picture of the cellular composition of the human body. This information can be used to better understand human health and disease.
- Male: 36 trillion cells
- Female: 28 trillion cells
- 10-year-old child: 17 trillion cells
