Somatic Cell

A **somatic cell** is a general term for any body cell, encompassing all human cells except for the cells that produce eggs and sperm, which are referred to as germ cells. Each somatic cells contains two copies of each chromosome, one inherited from each parent. These paired chromosomes are referred to as homologous pairs, with each pair representing the two copies of a single chromosome within the cell. Humans are diploid organisms, meaning each somatic cell contains 23 homologous pairs of chromosomes. This paired chromosome condition is called diploidy. *LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS CC licensed content, Shared previously, Mitch Singer, Cell Growth and Division, Authored by: OpenStax College. License: CC BY: Attribution. License Terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/b0m_b9I3@1/Bis2A-152-Cell-Growth-and-Divi* ## Keywords eukaryotic cell eukaryote tissue