<P> However, a large number of species have the chromosomes in their somatic cells arranged in fours ("tetraploid") or even sixes ("hexaploid"). Thus, they can have diploid or even triploid germline cells . An example of this is the modern cultivated species of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., a hexaploid species whose somatic cells contain six copies of every chromatid . </P> <P> The frequency of spontaneous mutations is significantly lower in advanced male germ cells than in somatic cell types from the same individual . Female germ cells also show a mutation frequency that is lower than that in corresponding somatic cells and similar to that in male germ cells . These findings appear to reflect employment of more effective mechanisms to limit the initial occurrence of spontaneous mutations in germ cells than in somatic cells . Such mechanisms likely include elevated levels of DNA repair enzymes that ameliorate most potentially mutagenic DNA damages . </P> <P> In recent years, the technique of cloning whole organisms has been developed in mammals, allowing almost identical genetic clones of an animal to be produced . One method of doing this is called "somatic cell nuclear transfer" and involves removing the nucleus from a somatic cell, usually a skin cell . This nucleus contains all of the genetic information needed to produce the organism it was removed from . This nucleus is then injected into an ovum of the same species which has had its own genetic material removed . The ovum now no longer needs to be fertilized, because it contains the correct amount of genetic material (a diploid number of chromosomes). In theory, the ovum can be implanted into the uterus of a same - species animal and allowed to develop . The resulting animal will be a nearly genetically identical clone to the animal from which the nucleus was taken . The only difference is caused by any mitochondrial DNA that is retained in the ovum, which is different from the cell that donated the nucleus . In practice, this technique has so far been problematic, although there have been a few high - profile successes, such as Dolly the Sheep and, more recently, Snuppy, the first cloned dog . Somatic cells have also been collected in the practice of cryoconservation of animal genetic resources as a means of conserving animal genetic material, including to clone livestock . </P> <P> Development of biotechnology has allowed for the genetic manipulation of somatic cells . This biotechnology deals with some ethical controversy in human genetic engineering . </P>

What number and types of chromosomes are found in a somatic cell in an animal with