What type of mutation occurs in body cells and is not passed on to offspring?

What type of mutation occurs in body cells and is not passed on to offspring?

• A. Germ-line mutation
• B. Somatic mutation
• C. Point mutation
• D. Chromosomal mutation

Answer: (B)

A somatic mutation occurs in the body cells, or somatic cells, which are all the cells in an organism except for the reproductive cells. These mutations can arise from various factors, such as environmental influences or errors during DNA replication. Since somatic mutations do not affect the germline cells (sperm and egg), they cannot be inherited by offspring. This means any changes in DNA sequence that happen in body cells only affect the individual organism and do not get passed to the next generation. Germ-line mutations, on the other hand, occur in the reproductive cells and can be transmitted to offspring. Point mutations are specific types of mutations that involve changes in a single nucleotide, while chromosomal mutations involve larger-scale changes to the structure or number of chromosomes. Although both point and chromosomal mutations can occur in somatic cells, it is the classification of somatic mutation that directly addresses the concept of mutations occurring in body cells and their inability to be inherited.

A somatic mutation occurs in the body cells, or somatic cells, which are all the cells in an organism except for the reproductive cells. These mutations can arise from various factors, such as environmental influences or errors during DNA replication. Since somatic mutations do not affect the germline cells (sperm and egg), they cannot be inherited by offspring. This means any changes in DNA sequence that happen in body cells only affect the individual organism and do not get passed to the next generation.

Germ-line mutations, on the other hand, occur in the reproductive cells and can be transmitted to offspring. Point mutations are specific types of mutations that involve changes in a single nucleotide, while chromosomal mutations involve larger-scale changes to the structure or number of chromosomes. Although both point and chromosomal mutations can occur in somatic cells, it is the classification of somatic mutation that directly addresses the concept of mutations occurring in body cells and their inability to be inherited.