In somatic cells, replication of a parent cell results in ___.

A) somatic cells randomly sorted genes

B) four gametes

C) haploid daughter cells

D) identical diploid daughter cells

D identical diploid daughter cells

In somatic cells, replication of a parent cell results in identical diploid daughter cells. Ploidy is the number of sets of chromosomes in a cell. Usually a gamete (sperm or egg, which fuse into a single cell during the fertilization phase of sexual reproduction) carries a full set of chromosomes that includes a single copy of each chromosome, as aneuploidy generally leads to severe genetic disease in the offspring.