Somatic cells
Somatic cells are any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells. They are fundamental to the structure and function of an organism, and are derived from the germ cells during the process of cell differentiation.
Structure and Function[edit | edit source]
Somatic cells contain two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, making them diploid. They are involved in all the biological processes of an organism except the production of gametes.
Somatic cells can be further classified into several types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons, and blood cells, each with their own specific functions and characteristics.
Reproduction[edit | edit source]
Somatic cells reproduce through the process of mitosis, where a single cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells. This is in contrast to the reproductive cells, or germ cells, which undergo meiosis to produce gametes.
Genetic Modification[edit | edit source]
Genetic modification of somatic cells is a key technique in gene therapy, where faulty genes in somatic cells are replaced or supplemented with functional ones. This has potential applications in treating a variety of genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Somatic cells Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
