Biology
Biology
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781259188138
Author: Peter H Raven, George B Johnson Professor, Kenneth A. Mason Dr. Ph.D., Jonathan Losos Dr., Susan Singer
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
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Textbook Question
Chapter 11, Problem 1U

In comparing somatic cells and gametes, somatic cells are

a. diploid with half the number of chromosomes.

b. haploid with half the number of chromosomes.

c. diploid with twice the number of chromosomes.

d. haploid with twice the number of chromosomes.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Somatic cells or body cells are diploid cells containing two sets of a chromosome. Somatic cells are formed by the process of mitosis while gametes or germ cells are formed by the process of meiosis. Gametes formation occurs by the fusion of egg and sperm cells during meiosis.

Answer to Problem 1U

Correct answer:

On comparing somatic cells and gametes, somatic cells are diploid with twice the number of chromosomes. Therefore, option c is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for the correct statement:

Somatic cells contain 46 chromosomes and are diploid (consisting of a pair of 23 chromosomes) in nature. On the other hand, the gametes contain only half of the chromosomes (only 23 chromosomes) and thus, each gamete is a haploid.

Option c. is given as “diploid with twice the number of chromosomes.”

As “Somatic cells contain two sets of chromosomes, they are said to be diploid. Gametes contain only one set of chromosomes and they are said to be haploid. Gametes are the sex cells (egg and sperm cells) that undergo meiosis, whereas somatic cells are the body cells that undergo mitosis. Somatic cells are diploid cells with twice the number of chromosomes”. Hence, it is the right answer.

Hence, option c. is correct.

Reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option a. is given as “diploid with half the numbers of chromosomes”.

On comparing the somatic cells with gametes, somatic cells are diploid in nature and contain twice the number of chromosomes. Therefore, it is the wrong answer.

Option b. is given as “haploid with half the number of chromosomes”.

The somatic cells are diploid cells that have twice the number of chromosomes in comparison to gametes. Therefore, it is the wrong answer.

Option d. is given as “haploid with twice the number of the chromosomes”.

On comparing the somatic cells with the gametes, somatic cells have twice the numbers of chromosomes (46chromosomes) and it is diploid in nature. Therefore, it is the wrong answer.

Hence, options a., b. and d. are incorrect.

Conclusion

Conclusion:

Somatic cells contain twice the numbers of chromosomes and are diploid in nature, while gametes are the sex cells and are haploid in nature that contain half the number of chromosomes.

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Students have asked these similar questions
Comparing somatic cells and gametes, somatic cells area. diploid with one set of chromosomes.b. haploid with one set of chromosomes.c. diploid with two sets of chromosomes.d. haploid with two sets of chromosomes.
Humans produce skin cells by mitosis and gametes by meiosis. Which of the following statements about the nuclei of skin cells is correct?   a. They contain half as much DNA as the nuclei of gametes produced by meiosis.   b. They contain four times as much DNA as the nuclei of gametes produced by meiosis.   c. They contain the same amount of DNA as the nuclei of gametes produced by meiosis.   d. They contain twice as much DNA as the nuclei of gametes produced by meiosis.
What is the fundamental difference between mitosis and meiosis?   A. DNA is replicated twice in meiosis, but only once in mitosis.   B. The number of DNA molecules per cell nucleus is cut in half in meiosis but remains constant in mitosis.   C. The number of chromosomes doubles in meiosis, whereas it stays the same in mitosis.     D. Mitosis involves two cell divisions, whereas meiosis only involves one.
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