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Why are somatic mutations generally less important than germ mutations?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Because the somatic mutation only produces the color of the iris of the eye. The germ mutation is in charge of the cell which will produce a gamete. It may be passed onto the offspring. So the somatic mutation isn't as important as the germ mutation.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA somatic mutation will only affect the organism which already contains that mutation and will not pass that mutation to its offspring. A gametic mutation may not affect the organism which contains the mutation, but that mutation may or will be passed to its offspring, where the mutation might be, or can be expressed.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoIn most cases a single somatic cell is inconsequential as such cells divide and die on a regular basis. At most, there is a slight chance that a mutation could cause a somatic cell to become cancerous. If a mutation occurs in a gamete then it will be passed on to any offspring conceived from that gamete. The mutation will be copied to every cell in the offspring's body.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoGene cells are propagated down through your decendents, somatic cells stick with you.
This assumes that mutations are bad ... and almost all are.
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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.
How can mutations affect an organism?
It depends on if it is in the germ line or in a somatic Cell. In the germ line a mutation can cause birth defects or lethal mutations. In somatic Cells it can cause cancer. The Genetic Mutation will have either of these effects: either beneficial or detrimental.
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.
Mutations that occur in germ-line cells are?
Somatic mutations occur in somatic body cells. These mutations are passed on to daughter cells during mitosis and to the offspring of those cells in turn, but are not passed on to sexually produced offspring.
What is the difference between somatic and gametic cells?
a germline mutation is one the was passed on to offspring because the egg or sperm cell was mutated. a somatic mutation is a mutation of the somatic cells (all cells except sex cells) that cannot be passed on to offspring.
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.
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.
How mutations can affect organisms?
It depends on if it is in the germ line or in a somatic Cell. In the germ line a mutation can cause birth defects or lethal mutations. In somatic Cells it can cause cancer. The Genetic Mutation will have either of these effects: either beneficial or detrimental.
What is somatic variation?
Mutations that occur in the somatic cells are called somatic variations .New mutations occur twice as frequently in sperm as in eggs(germ cells), probably because so many more cell divisions are required to make sperm than eggs.
How can mutations affect an organism?
It depends on if it is in the germ line or in a somatic Cell. In the germ line a mutation can cause birth defects or lethal mutations. In somatic Cells it can cause cancer. The Genetic Mutation will have either of these effects: either beneficial or detrimental.
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.
Would a skin cell mutation on your hand affect your offspring?
No. Skin cells are somatic cells. Your offspring come from gametes which are made by germ line cells. Only mutations in germ line cells or your gametes are passed on to your offspring.
Do gametes come from germ cells of somatic cells?
somatic cell
What are somatic cell and germ cell?
Germ cells are cells that become gametes (are n: have have the genetic material) and somatic cells are all the rest (2n)
Mutations that occur in germ-line cells are?
Somatic mutations occur in somatic body cells. These mutations are passed on to daughter cells during mitosis and to the offspring of those cells in turn, but are not passed on to sexually produced offspring.
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.
Can somatic mutations lead to evolution?
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.
