Question
what are somatic cells
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Somatic cells are any cells in the body of an organism that are not germ cells (sperm and egg cells). They make up most of the body's tissues and organs, and are involved in the growth, development, and maintenance of the organism. Somatic cells contain the full set of chromosomal DNA, which is typically organized into pairs (in diploid organisms, such as humans) and includes both autosomes and sex chromosomes.
Examples of somatic cells include:
- Skin cells (keratinocytes)
- Muscle cells (myocytes)
- Nerve cells (neurons)
- Blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells)
- Epithelial cells (lining of organs and cavities)
Somatic cells undergo mitosis for cell division, allowing for growth and repair, while germ cells undergo meiosis, which results in the production of gametes for sexual reproduction. In contrast to germ cells, somatic cells do not contribute to the genetic material passed to offspring.
Examples of somatic cells include:
- Skin cells (keratinocytes)
- Muscle cells (myocytes)
- Nerve cells (neurons)
- Blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells)
- Epithelial cells (lining of organs and cavities)
Somatic cells undergo mitosis for cell division, allowing for growth and repair, while germ cells undergo meiosis, which results in the production of gametes for sexual reproduction. In contrast to germ cells, somatic cells do not contribute to the genetic material passed to offspring.