1. Chromosome Number:
- Somatic cells are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent). In humans, this means they have 46 chromosomes.
- Gametes are haploid, meaning they have only one set of chromosomes. In humans, this means they have 23 chromosomes.
2. Function:
- Somatic cells make up all the tissues and organs of an organism. They are responsible for carrying out the body's everyday functions.
- Gametes are specialized cells for reproduction. They are responsible for combining with another gamete (sperm and egg) to form a zygote, which develops into a new individual.
3. Formation:
- Somatic cells are produced through mitosis, a process of cell division that creates two identical daughter cells.
- Gametes are produced through meiosis, a specialized type of cell division that results in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
