Advanced Placement (AP) Biology Practice Exam

Which component is absent in somatic cells?

1. Nucleus

2. Sperm

3. Cytoplasm

4. Cell membrane

The correct answer is: Sperm

The absence of sperm in somatic cells is a fundamental concept in biology. Somatic cells, which make up the majority of the body's tissues and organs, are diploid cells containing two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. They include all cells except for the gametes (sperm and egg cells). Sperm cells, being specialized gametes, are specifically involved in sexual reproduction and are haploid, meaning they carry only one set of chromosomes. The primary function of sperm is to fertilize the egg, resulting in the formation of a zygote, which then develops into an embryo and eventually into an organism. In contrast, somatic cells are responsible for the structure and function of the body and do not participate directly in reproduction. Thus, the presence of sperm is distinct to reproductive cells, confirming that somatic cells do not contain sperm. Understanding this distinction is crucial for grasping the overall organization and function of cells in multicellular organisms.