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

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

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

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

• Cell biology
• Cell division
• Cell cycle
• Stem cell

References

Somatic cells Resources
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