Final answer:
A somatic cell of an organism with a genomic configuration of 2n = 32 will have 32 chromosomes, and its gametes will each have 16 chromosomes. The gametes contain half the number of chromosomes to ensure that upon fertilization, the diploid number is restored.
Step-by-step explanation:
A somatic cell of an organism with a genomic configuration of 2n = 32 will contain 32 chromosomes, and a gamete from this organism will contain half that number, 16 chromosomes. In eukaryotic organisms, the somatic or body cells are typically diploid, which means they contain two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.
For example, human somatic cells have 46 chromosomes. The gametes, or sex cells—sperm and eggs—are haploid, containing only one set of chromosomes. This is to ensure that upon fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the appropriate diploid number. The process that leads to the formation of gametes, meiosis, reduces the chromosome number by half, which in the case of our organism, reduces the chromosome number from 32 in a somatic cell to 16 in a gamete.