Final answer:
The main difference is that somatic cells are diploid with 46 chromosomes in humans, while gametes are haploid with 23 chromosomes. Gametes have half the number of chromosomes as somatic cells due to meiosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Chromosome Number in Gametes and Somatic Cells
The main difference between the chromosome number of a gamete and that of a somatic cell (or body cell) of the same organism lies in the ploidy level. A somatic cell is diploid, meaning it contains two sets of chromosomes, one set inherited from each parent. In humans, this means a somatic cell has a total of 46 chromosomes. On the other hand, a gamete is haploid and contains only one set of chromosomes, equivalent to half the number of chromosomes found in somatic cells, which is 23 chromosomes in humans. This reduction in the chromosome number in gametes occurs due to a process known as meiosis, which ensures that upon fertilization when two gametes merge, the resulting zygote will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes.
For example, if a muscle cell (which is a type of somatic cell) of an organism contains 32 chromosomes, a gamete of that same organism will contain 16 chromosomes. This is because gametes are produced through meiosis, which includes two rounds of cell division, resulting in cells with half the chromosome number of the original cell.