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In comparing somatic cells and gametes, somatic cells are
a. diploid with half the number of chromosomes.
b. haploid with half the number of chromosomes.
c. diploid with twice the number of chromosomes.
d. haploid with twice the number of chromosomes.
Introduction:
Somatic cells or body cells are diploid cells containing two sets of a chromosome. Somatic cells are formed by the process of mitosis while gametes or germ cells are formed by the process of meiosis. Gametes formation occurs by the fusion of egg and sperm cells during meiosis.
Answer to Problem 1U
Correct answer:
On comparing somatic cells and gametes, somatic cells are diploid with twice the number of chromosomes. Therefore, option c is correct.
Explanation of Solution
Reason for the correct statement:
Somatic cells contain
Option c. is given as “diploid with twice the number of chromosomes.”
As “Somatic cells contain two sets of chromosomes, they are said to be diploid. Gametes contain only one set of chromosomes and they are said to be haploid. Gametes are the sex cells (egg and sperm cells) that undergo meiosis, whereas somatic cells are the body cells that undergo mitosis. Somatic cells are diploid cells with twice the number of chromosomes”. Hence, it is the right answer.
Hence, option c. is correct.
Reasons for the incorrect statements:
Option a. is given as “diploid with half the numbers of chromosomes”.
On comparing the somatic cells with gametes, somatic cells are diploid in nature and contain twice the number of chromosomes. Therefore, it is the wrong answer.
Option b. is given as “haploid with half the number of chromosomes”.
The somatic cells are diploid cells that have twice the number of chromosomes in comparison to gametes. Therefore, it is the wrong answer.
Option d. is given as “haploid with twice the number of the chromosomes”.
On comparing the somatic cells with the gametes, somatic cells have twice the numbers of chromosomes (
Hence, options a., b. and d. are incorrect.
Conclusion:
Somatic cells contain twice the numbers of chromosomes and are diploid in nature, while gametes are the sex cells and are haploid in nature that contain half the number of chromosomes.
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Human Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning