AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Definition. 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: -Human body cells (somatic cells) have 46 chromosomes. A somatic cell contains two matched sets of chromosomes, a configuration known as diploid.

Detailed explanation-3: -Normally, each cell in the human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 total chromosomes).

Detailed explanation-4: -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.