Does the liver cell contain the same chromosome as a cheek cell ?

Question

Does the liver cell contain the same chromosome as a cheek cell ?

Answer 1

Actually, cells from various human tissues can have a different number of chromosomes, eg skeletal muscle IIRC, due to them being formed by fusion of several cells, and having several nuclei per mature cell. Thus, it was NOT a silly question.

AFAICR, and from a quick internet search, hepatocytes have only a single nucleus, thus their chromosome complement is just 2n. The cells from the cheek will be the same; 2n.

As far as I know, the differences are developed and maintained by turning different genes "on" or "off", rather than deleting any.

Though, in cells that make antibodies, the genes for antibodies are heavily - modified, in the cells' nuclei, as those cells mature ... last I read about it, anyhow, back in the 80s! There is a lot of rearrangement of genes for immunoglobulins, as they are called; these genes code for bits of antibodies / immunoglobulins, and the genes are reassorted, trimmed and so on, during maturation.

But AFAIK, the liver cells (hepatocytes) and cheek cells (squamous cells) have the same genome.

Answer 2

Yes different genes on the chromosomes are expressed in the cells all of the cells except for the egg or sperm cells contain all of the chromosomes for whatever species of animal you are talking about

Answer 3

Yes. The only cells that have a decreased number of chromosomes would be your sex cells and red blood cells.

Answer 4

Yes. All somatic cells contain the same chromosomes. Different ones are activated in different cells, depending on its function.

Answer 5

of course it does