A diploid cell is a cell that contains two complete sets of chromosomes, with each parent contributing a chromosome to each pair. Most cells in humans are diploid, comprising 23 chromosome pairs, so 46 chromosomes in total. This is 22 pairs of autosomes and a pair of sex chromosomes. One copy of each chromosome pair came from the individuals mother and the other from the individuals father. Since we have two copies of each chromosome, we also have two copies of every gene. Cells that are diploid contain two copies of each chromosome and therefore two copies of each gene. The exception to this are males who have one X and one Y chromosome.