Question

Question regarding biology: given this statement by campbell biology does that mean cells in testes that produce sperm cells are not somatic cells"

Answer 1

Sperms are produced in seminiferous tubules in the testes. Seminiferous tubules consist of sertoli cells, which are somatic in nature and play a supportive role in production and development of sperm. The sperm itself is produced by the meiosis of germ cells known as spermatogonia. After meiosis, spermatozoa are poduced which are mature sperms.

Somatic cells are those which have two sets of gametes, i.e., these cells are diploid in nature. These divide by means of mitosis cell division. Spermatozoa are male gametes and are haploid in nature. They have only one set of chromosoems and they are a product of meiosis division. A cell cappable of meiosis is known as germ cell. Thus, cells in testes that produce sperm cells are not somatic cells, instead they are germ cells.