Somatic Number

The somatic number (or S-number) is the number of chromosomes that is characteristic of a given biological species in somatic (non-reproductive) cells. Unlike germ cells, where the number of chromosomes is always odd, somatic cells can have both an odd and an even number of chromosomes.

The somatic number is important in biology because it determines the characteristics of the genetic material that is passed on from generation to generation. For example, in humans the somatic number is 46, which means that each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes. This number is stable and does not change throughout life.

However, the somatic number may vary depending on various factors such as age, gender, environment, etc. For example, during embryonic development, the number of chromosomes can increase or decrease, and also change during cell division.

In addition, the somatic number may also be important in determining genetic diseases associated with changes in the number of chromosomes or their structure. For example, Down syndrome, associated with trisomy 21, can be diagnosed based on the somatic number in the blood cells.

Thus, the somatic number plays an important role in biology and medicine, and its understanding helps to better understand the characteristics of the genetic material and diagnose genetic diseases.

The somatic number is the number of chromosomes in the body, which does not depend on the phase of the cell cycle and the age of the cell, but reflects the genetic status of the entire organism.

Determining the somatic number has practical value in diagnosing hereditary diseases, determining the genomic profile, and choosing a treatment strategy for hereditary oncological diseases. More than a thousand specific somatic numbers of various biological species are known.

The somatic (true) number denotes the number of whole and fuzzy-paired chromosomes of the entire set of haploid sets of the genome of an organism, taking into account their number in each cell that is capable of producing offspring. Each organism has a set of chromosomes - a karyotype, consisting of two genetic DNA molecules and a set of chromosomes. A chromosome is an element of a karyotype, which is a unit of hereditary information. A gene is a region of a chromosome that transmits one unit of traits or symptoms and is involved in regulating the expression of many genes. Genes contain important information about the normal functioning of all cells. Each gene directs the development of a trait or function of a specific organ and even part of the body - a morphogen. A somatic number study is carried out when the question arises of establishing a karyotype or changing an already known karyotype. The analysis may be important in the treatment of genetic disorders and increased risk of cancer. It is important to clarify hereditary pathologies and concomitant treatment (in oncology, genetics).

We can conclude that somatic analysis is an integral part of modern medicine and genetics; it represents a significant contribution to the study of the genetic profile of humans, animals, plants, and other organisms. This method of analysis is very useful in medicine and disease diagnosis and helps to identify hereditary diseases in the early stages.