Which term describes body cells?

Which term describes body cells?

• A. Somatic
• B. Germ
• C. Gamete
• D. Zygote

Answer: (A)

Body cells are called somatic cells. They make up every tissue and organ of the body and divide by mitosis to grow and replace worn-out cells. Somatic cells are typically diploid, meaning they carry two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, and they are not the cells directly involved in sexual reproduction. Germ cells are the cells in the reproductive organs that will become gametes through meiosis, producing sperm or eggs. Gametes are the actual reproductive cells themselves—haploid cells that combine during fertilization. The zygote is the fertilized egg formed when a sperm fuses with an egg, starting a new organism. So, the term that describes body cells is somatic.

Body cells are called somatic cells. They make up every tissue and organ of the body and divide by mitosis to grow and replace worn-out cells. Somatic cells are typically diploid, meaning they carry two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, and they are not the cells directly involved in sexual reproduction.

Germ cells are the cells in the reproductive organs that will become gametes through meiosis, producing sperm or eggs. Gametes are the actual reproductive cells themselves—haploid cells that combine during fertilization. The zygote is the fertilized egg formed when a sperm fuses with an egg, starting a new organism.

So, the term that describes body cells is somatic.