What is the number of DNA strands per cell?

Question

I wonder if each cell possess only one strand of DNA which according to my book is more than "7 feet" long(if uncoiled), then why does human has 46 chromosomes which are actually coiled chromatin (DNA wrapped around histone proteins)? Does DNA break into parts and form 46 chromosomes during cell division (I am just guessing I am not sure about it)?

Answer 1

In eukaryotic cells (like our own) DNA remains broken up in multiple pieces and will coil up before replication. In your book, what they most likely mean is that if you lined up all of the uncoiled DNA end to end it would be over 7 feet long. So DNA doesn't break itself up into chromatin before replication as they are already that way, they will simply coil themselves prior to chromosomes.