Humans have two types of cells in their body as body cells and gametes. Body cells are also called somatic cells. Gametes are known as sex cells. Eggs and sperm are the gametes in the body. Each body cell contains 46 chromosomes in their cells. On the other hand, each gamete contains 23 chromosomes in its cells.
The key difference between body cells and gametes is their DNA. Body cells have DNA that does not pass to the future generation while gametes have DNA that passes to the future generation.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Body Cells
3. What are Gametes
4. Similarities – Body Cells and Gametes
5. Body Cells vs Gametes in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Body Cells vs Gametes
7. FAQ – Body Cells and Gametes
What are Body Cells?
Body cells, also known as somatic cells, make up the majority of cells in the body. They also account for any regular type of cell that does not perform sexual functions in the body. In humans, somatic cells contain two full sets of chromosomes; hence, they are diploid (46 chromosomes). Body cells reproduce using mitosis to create identical diploid copies of themselves when they split.
![What is the Difference Between Body Cells and Gametes 1 Body Cells](https://i2.wp.com/www.differencebetween.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Cells-of-the-Body.png?resize=401%2C567&ssl=1)
Figure 01: Body Cells
Body cells can differentiate and become any type of cells in the body. Body cells can become adults’ neurons in the nervous system, blood cells in the cardiovascular system, liver cells in the digestive system or any of the many other types of cells.
What are Gametes?
Gametes are also known as sex cells. They are the eggs and sperm in humans. All multicellular eukaryotic organisms that undergo sexual reproduction use gametes. Gametes are haploid. In humans, gametes are haploid cells that contain 23 chromosomes.
![What is the Difference Between Body Cells and Gametes 2 Gametes](https://i0.wp.com/www.differencebetween.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Gamete-Production.jpg?resize=549%2C277&ssl=1)
Figure 02: Gametes
Gametes are made by the process of meiosis. In this process, each diploid cell can turn a diploid cell into four haploid gametes. A human male can continue to make new gametes throughout his life, while a human female has a limited number of gametes made within a relatively short amount of time. Furthermore, gametes are involved in the process of creating offspring.
Similarities Between Body Cells and Gametes
- Body cells and gametes are two main types of cells within the multicellular organism.
- Haploid gametes are produced from diploid body cells.
- Both have DNA in their cells.
- They carry out very important functions.
Difference Between Body Cells and Gametes
Definition
- Body cells are somatic cells in the body.
- Gametes are sex cells in the body.
Haploid or Diploid
- Body cells are diploid.
- Gametes are haploid.
Number of Chromosomes in the Cell
- Body cells have 46 chromosomes.
- Gametes have 23 chromosomes.
Produced by the Process of
- Body cells are produced by mitosis.
- Gametes are produced by meiosis.
Function
- Body cells help in the nervous system, circulatory system, digestive function, and many other functions of the body.
- Gametes help in sexual function (creating new offspring).
This summarizes the difference between body cells and gametes.
Summary – Body Cells vs Gametes
Multicellular eukaryotic organisms have many different types of cells in their body, which perform different functions as they combine to form tissues. There are two main types of cells within the multicellular organism as somatic cells and gametes. Body cells are somatic cells that contain DNA, which do not pass to offspring, while gametes are sex cells that contain DNA, which do pass to offspring. This is the key difference between body cells and gametes.
FAQ: Body Cells and Gametes
1. How many cells are in the human body system?
- There are around 37.2 trillion cells in the human body. However, people may vary in size and hence vary in their number of cells. Most of these cells are somatic cells, while only a few non-somatic or sex cells are present in the body.
2. What are somatic and non-somatic cells?
- In plants and animals, there are two main types of cells: somatic cells (body cells) and non-somatic cells, which are also known as reproductive cells, germ cells or gametes. In humans and other animals, non-somatic cells are the egg and sperm cells. All other cells in the body are known as somatic cells.
3. Is mitosis or meiosis occurring in somatic cells?
- Somatic cells undergo mitosis to proliferate, while germ cells undergo meiosis to produce haploid gametes known as the sperm and the egg. The development of a new progeny in an organism is later initiated by the fusion of these gametes by their fertilization.
4. How many sex cells do males have?
- Male sex cells are called sperms. They are generated constantly through sexual maturity at an average rate of about 1500 per second through a process called meiosis. An average of about 525 billion are made over the course of a lifetime in males.
5. Are sex cells haploid or diploid?
- The sex cells or gametes are haploid. Human gametes are known as egg and sperm cells. They contain 22 autosomes and one sex chromosome. These haploid cells fertilize to make zygotes that are involved in the development of future progeny in the organisms.
Reference:
1. “Gamete.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.
2. “The Cell: Types, Functions, and Organelles.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Production of Gametes” By cat.nash (CC BY 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
2. “Cells of the human body by count” By Auguel – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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