Here's why:
* Somatic cells: These are all the cells in your body that aren't involved in reproduction. They are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent).
* Sex cells (gametes): These are specialized cells (sperm and egg) that are involved in reproduction. They are haploid, meaning they have only one set of chromosomes.
This difference in chromosome number is crucial for sexual reproduction:
* When a sperm cell (haploid) fertilizes an egg cell (haploid), the resulting zygote is diploid, having two sets of chromosomes – one from each parent.
* This ensures that the offspring receives a complete set of genetic information, half from each parent.
So, to answer your question directly: sex cells differ from body cells in that they do not have a full set of chromosomes (they are haploid).
