3 Questions
What is the difference between somatic and germ-cell mutations?
Somatic mutations occur in body cells that don’t make eggs or sperm, while germ-cell mutations occur in sex cells.
What are the effects of germ-cell mutations?
They affect the offspring of the person with the mutation and are heritable.
How do somatic and germ-cell mutations relate to cancer?
Both somatic and germ-cell mutations can lead to cancers.
Study Notes
Types of Mutations
- Somatic mutations: occur in non-reproductive cells (e.g. skin, muscle, blood cells) and are not passed on to offspring.
- Germ-cell mutations: occur in reproductive cells (e.g. sperm, egg cells) and can be passed on to offspring.
Effects of Germ-Cell Mutations
- Can result in hereditary diseases or disorders in offspring.
- Can alter the frequency of a particular trait or characteristic in a population.
Mutations and Cancer
- Somatic mutations: can lead to cancer, as they can disrupt normal cellular function and lead to uncontrolled cell growth.
- Germ-cell mutations: can increase the risk of cancer in offspring, as they can affect the functioning of genes involved in tumor suppression.
- Both types of mutations can contribute to the development of cancer, but somatic mutations are more directly associated with cancer development.
Test your knowledge on mutations with our quiz! Learn about the two major categories of mutations - somatic and germ-cell mutations - and understand their differences. Discover how these mutations can affect an individual and whether or not they are heritable. Sharpen your understanding of genetics with this informative quiz.
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