How are somatic different from gametes?
Somatic cells contain half the number of chromosomes.
Somatic cells do not go through cell division.
Somatic cell mutations are not passed to the next generation.
Somatic cells are sex cells.
Somatic cells and gametes are different in several ways:
1. Chromosome Number: Somatic cells are diploid, meaning they contain a full set of chromosomes (two copies of each), while gametes are haploid, containing half the number of chromosomes (one copy of each).
2. Cell Division: Somatic cells undergo mitosis, a form of cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells. Gametes, on the other hand, undergo a specialized form of cell division called meiosis, which results in the formation of four genetically diverse daughter cells.
3. Passing Mutations: Mutations occurring in somatic cells are not passed on to the next generation since they do not contribute to the genetic material of offspring. In contrast, mutations occurring in gametes can be inherited by the offspring as they form the genetic material for the next generation.
4. Sex Cells: Somatic cells are not sex cells; they form the majority of cells in an individual's body, including skin cells, muscle cells, and nerve cells. Gametes, also known as sex cells, are specialized reproductive cells – sperm in males and eggs in females – that fuse during fertilization to form a zygote, from which a new individual develops.