Final answer:
Somatic cells are the structural components of the body and have 46 chromosomes. Gametes, or sex cells, have 23 chromosomes and are involved in reproduction. Somatic cells are formed through mitosis, while gametes are formed through meiosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Somatic cells are the structural components of the body, such as tissues, muscles, and organs. They have 46 chromosomes and are diploid, meaning they have two copies of each chromosome. Gametes, also known as sex cells, are involved in reproduction. They have 23 chromosomes and are haploid, meaning they have half the number of chromosomes as somatic cells.
Somatic cells are formed through the process of mitosis, where a parent cell divides once to produce two genetically identical daughter cells. Gametes are formed through the process of meiosis, where a parent cell undergoes two divisions resulting in four daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes.