Somatic
Cell
Gamete
1. Using just the diagrams above, compare and contrast the somatic and gamete cells.
SOMATIC CELLS
SIMILARITIES
GAMETES (SEX CELLS)
Scientists have discovered that there are two different types of cells within all living organisms,
gametes and somatic cells. Gametes are the sex cells within an organism. The gametes for humans are
more commonly called the egg and sperm. Somatic cells are all the other cells in our bodies, which
include blood cells, skin cells, and eye cells.
Somatic cells and gametes differ in the number of chromosomes contained in the nucleus. Somatic
cells have two sets of each chromosome, which is why they are also called diploid cells. Gametes,
however, only have one set of each chromosome. Since gametes or sex cells have half the number of
chromosomes as somatic cells, they are also called haploid cells.
In humans, one set of chromosomes is equal to 23 chromosomes. Therefore, a human sperm or egg
would contain 23 chromosomes in the nucleus. In somatic cells, there are 2 sets of chromosomes.
Therefore, in human somatic cells, there would be 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
Somatic cells and gametes are similar in that they contain chromosomes of the same DNA. In
gametes, there is just one copy of each chromosome. In somatic cells, there are two copies of each
chromosomes or pairs.
Main Idea: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Supporting Details:
1. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Somatic cell
Gamete
Diploid
Haploid
Determine which cell is gamete and which is a somatic cells
and label them.
The eye cell of a fruit fly contains 8 chromosomes. The egg of a fruit fly contains 4 chromosomes.
Draw a somatic cell and a gamete for a fruit fly.
A grape sex cell has 3 chromosomes. Draw a diploid grape cell.
A diploid cell has 50 chromosomes. How many chromosomes does the haploid cell of that organism
have?
A haploid cell has 50 chromosomes. How many chromosomes does the diploid cell of that organism
have?
A diploid cell has 20 chromosomes. How many chromosomes does the haploid cell of that organism
have?
A lung cell had 26 chromosomes, how many chromosomes would the sex cells of that organism have?
An organism has 17 chromosomes in its gametes. How many chromosomes would the eggs of the
organism have?
A bee has 14 chromosomes in the wing cells. How many chromosomes would the sex cells
have?_____________________________________________
A fruit fly liver cell has 4 pairs of chromosomes. How many chromosomes would the haploid cell
have?
What is the major difference between gametes and sex cells?
How are gametes and sex cells similar? (hint: go back to the reading)