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Only indirectly. For instance, the propensity of certain genes in somatic cells to mutate can itself be the result of a mutation in the germ plasm of the ancestor. Such mutations would alter the behaviour of the cell (they might cause a form of cancer, or they might cause the immune system to behave in new ways), and would therefore be selected for or against, causing the frequencies of alleles that regulate this propensity for mutation to shift in a certain direction over the generations. Other than that, mutations in somatic cells have little to no effect on evolution.

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Does somatic mutation contribute to evolution?

No. Only germ line mutation can be passed on. Somatic mutations die with the organism that processes them. The change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms, evolution, can not take place if the alleles can not get onto the population through the organism having progeny; the result of germ lines.


What is a sentence with the word somatic?

Many cancers are somatic mutations.


What kinds of somatic cell gene mutations can frequently lead to the first stages of cancer?

Proto-oncogene is the kind of somatic cell gene mutation that can lead to first stages of cancer. Proto-oncogene can lead to cellular transformation.


Are gamete cells mutations and somatic cells mutations inheritable?

Since only gamete cells actually participate in the creation of a new organism, it is only the mutations in gamete cells which are inheritable; mutations in somatic cells are not inheritable.


Can somatic mutations occur in sex chromosomes?

Yes, somatic mutations can occur in sex chromosomes. These mutations can affect the genes located on the X or Y chromosome, leading to genetic changes in somatic cells, which are not passed on to offspring. Somatic mutations on sex chromosomes can impact an individual's health and development.


What Mutation does not affect the offsping?

Somatic mutations are not passed on to offspring because they occur in non-reproductive cells. These mutations only affect the individual in which they occur, and are not transmitted to future generations.


What is the difference between somatic and germ line mutations?

A mutation occurring in a germ cell is heritable 50% of the time. Somatic cell mutations only affect the individual cell and its progeny produced by mitosis. Somatic cell mutations cannot be passed on to the organism's offspring.


What can mutations do and do not do?

Mutations can introduce genetic variation within a population, which can lead to diversity, adaptation, and evolution. However, mutations do not always result in beneficial changes and can also lead to genetic disorders or diseases.


Is the difference between germ line and somatic mutations?

A mutation occurring in a germ cell is heritable 50% of the time. Somatic cell mutations only affect the individual cell and its progeny produced by mitosis. Somatic cell mutations cannot be passed on to the organism's offspring.


For a mutation to affect evolution it must occur in?

For a mutation to affect evolution, it must occur in the DNA of reproductive cells (sperm or egg cells) so that it can be passed on to offspring. Mutations that occur in somatic cells (non-reproductive cells) do not directly impact evolution as they are not inherited by future generations.


Mutations are a source of what in a species?

Genetic variation, which can lead to evoloution, and then potentially a new species.


Which kind of mutation has the greater potential to affect the evolution of a population a mutation to a body cell or a mutation in an egg cell?

Mutations that occur during gametogenesis (formation of egg and sperm) are called germ-line mutations. They are more significant than somatic mutations (which occur in body cells) because they can be transmitted to the next generation whereas somatic mutations are not transmitted to the next generation.