• Question: How many cell are there in an average 12 year old human body?

    Asked by ranger777rex to Alberto, Chris, Emmanuel, Jennie, Michelle on 17 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Chris Whittle

      Chris Whittle answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      It would vary quite a lot between individuals but probably around 10, 000, 000, 000, 000. However, your body probably contains tens times as many bacteria (on your skin, in your mouth and digestive system) so there would be about 100, 000, 000, 000, 000 bacteria as well.

    • Photo: Emmanuel Amabebe

      Emmanuel Amabebe answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      there are about 100 trillion cells in a human being including a 12 year old.

    • Photo: Michelle Taylor

      Michelle Taylor answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      I think the chaps have answered this one – but did you know that the number of fat cells in your body increases during childhood and teenage years and then remains the same for the rest of your adult life. This could explain why some people find it harder to maintain a healthy weight as adults.

    • Photo: Alberto Lapedriza

      Alberto Lapedriza answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      They have already answered you: around 100 trillion cells. But what is most striking is that all those cells are originated from a single cell embryo created by the fertilisation of the egg cell by the sperm. This is what developmental biologist are trying to understand: how a single cell embryo can divide millions of times, in an ordered way, to form a baby with 100 trillion cells, and without any mistake!

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