What is the major difference between a human skin cell and a human egg cell?

Options

A. The egg cell has twice as many chromosomes as the skin cell.
B. The egg cell has half as many chromosomes as the skin cell.
C. The skin cell has no genetic information in its chromosomes.
D. Only the egg cell has a nucleus

Answer

To answer the question about the major difference between a human skin cell and a human egg cell, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Types of Cells**:
- A human skin cell is a somatic cell, which means it is a non-reproductive cell that makes up the tissues and organs of the body.
- A human egg cell (oocyte) is a gamete, which is a reproductive cell involved in sexual reproduction.

2. **Chromosome Number**:
- Human skin cells are diploid (2n), meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes (one from each parent). In humans, this totals 46 chromosomes.
- Human egg cells are haploid (n), meaning they contain only one set of chromosomes. In humans, this totals 23 chromosomes.

3. **Genetic Information**:
- Both types of cells contain genetic information, but the egg cell carries genetic information that can be passed on to the next generation, while skin cells do not contribute to reproduction.

4. **Presence of Nucleus**:
- Both skin cells and egg cells have a nucleus. This is not a distinguishing factor between the two.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The major difference between a human skin cell and a human egg cell is the chromosome number: skin cells have 46 chromosomes (2n), while egg cells have 23 chromosomes (n).

### Final Answer:
The major difference between a human skin cell and a human egg cell is that a human skin cell is diploid (2n) with 46 chromosomes, while a human egg cell is haploid (n) with 23 chromosomes.

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