Somatic cells are produced through a process called mitosis. Mitosis is a fundamental mechanism of cell division that occurs in all eukaryotic organisms, and it is responsible for the growth, development, and repair of tissues in multicellular organisms.
During mitosis, a single parent cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells. This process ensures that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes, which is crucial for maintaining the organism’s genetic integrity. Mitosis is composed of several stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis, where the cytoplasm of the parent cell is divided.
In contrast to somatic cells, germ cells undergo meiosis, which is a different type of cell division that results in gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the number of chromosomes. Therefore, somatic cells, which make up most of the body tissues and organs, are produced exclusively through mitosis.