AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Somatic cells are the cells in the body other than sperm and egg cells (which are called germ cells). In humans, somatic cells are diploid, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes, one inherited from each parent.

Detailed explanation-2: -The word “somatic” is derived from the Greek word soma, meaning “body”. Hence, all body cells of an organism – apart from the sperm and egg cells, the cells from which they arise (gametocytes) and undifferentiated stem cells – are somatic cells.

Detailed explanation-3: -Somatic cell are all cells of the body other than the reproductive cells. These cells performs all the body functions apart from reproduction. Somatic cells are also known as non-reproductive cells.

Detailed explanation-4: -The somatic nervous system consists of the cell bodies located in either the brainstem or the spinal cord. They have an extremely long course as they do not synapse after they leave the CNS until they are at their termination in skeletal muscle.