How are sex cells different from regular body cells in terms of the number of chromosomes they have?

Question

And why is it important?

Alrighty I got what I needed, thank you all! Very much appreciated... =]

Answer 1

A regular body cell in humans is 46 chromosomes, and a gamete, or sex cell, has 23. The importance is that if gametes meet, via sperm/egg, and fertilize, then the number of cells would be exactly 46, which is the number that makes humans function correctly, or else there would be disorders.

Answer 2

Sex cells are the gametes: eggs and sperms.

These cells must have half the usual number of chromosomes.
When the cells join together during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the whole number of chromosomes again.

Answer 3

They are monoploid- meaning that they have only 1 copy of each chromosome whereas somatic cells are diploid. The significance of this is that when fertilization occurs there will be a normal diploid complement. If the sex cells were diploid to start with, the zygote would be tetraploid and need to get rid of half the genetic complement to retain the original copy number...

Answer 4

sperm and egg each have 23 chromosomes so when they fuse together during fertilization they form 46 chromosomes, the number in body cells. from the zygote, or fertilized egg, the zygote begins to replicate mitotically- through mitosis. the egg is bigger because it creates the baby and because it has lots of cytoplasm. the non important cells (4 cells are created by meiosis) are called polar bodies. 3 of them are formed along with one egg by meiosis, but the polar bodies are reabsorbed. meiosis that creates sperm makes 4 equal sperm.

hope this helps!

Answer 5

ok....so sex cells have half the number of chromosomes that regular body cells have....this is because when the sperm fertilizes the egg cell then you have the one regular body cell with the full umber of chromosomes u need! and then u multiply that cell over and over and over agian and there u go--full blown body!