Zygote is a fertilized egg formed by the fusion of a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg). It contains a diploid number of chromosomes, which is the sum of the haploid number of chromosomes from each parent. Since humans are diploid organisms, with 23 chromosomes in each set, a human zygote contains 46 chromosomes (23 from the sperm and 23 from the egg). These chromosomes are required for the development and functioning of the new individual.

Body cells, also known as somatic cells, are all the cells of an organism except for the reproductive cells (gametes). They contain a diploid number of chromosomes, just like the zygote. In humans, somatic cells also have 46 chromosomes.

The zygote contains the full set of genetic material needed to develop into a new individual, as it inherits half of the chromosomes from each parent. The information carried on these chromosomes guides embryonic development, tissue formation, and the expression of various traits and characteristics. As the zygote undergoes successive rounds of mitosis, these chromosomal copies are passed on to all the daughter cells, ensuring that each body cell receives the complete set of genetic instructions necessary for its function.

In summary, the number of chromosomes in a human zygote is the same as in body cells, which is 46. Both the zygote and somatic cells are diploid, containing two sets of chromosomes, one set inherited from each parent.