What defines a somatic cell?

A somatic cell is defined as a body cell, which comprises all of the cells forming the body of an organism, except for the reproductive cells (gametes). This means somatic cells include various types of cells such as skin cells, muscle cells, nerve cells, and many others that contribute to the tissues and organs of the body. Each somatic cell carries a full set of chromosomes, which are diploid in humans, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes—one from each parent. This distinguishes them from reproductive cells, which are haploid and only contain one set of chromosomes. Understanding the role of somatic cells is crucial in areas such as developmental biology, genetics, and medicine, as they are fundamental to the structure and function of the body's systems.