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Everyone acquires some changes to their DNA during the course of their lives. These changes occur in a number of ways. Sometimes there are simple copying errors that are introduced when DNA replicates itself. (Every time a cell divides, all of its DNA is duplicated so that the each of the two resulting cells have a full set of DNA.) Other changes are introduced as a result of DNA damage through environmental agents including sunlight, cigarette smoke, and radiation. Our cells have built in mechanisms that catch and repair most of the changes that occur during DNA replication or from environmental damage. As we age, however, our DNA repair does not work as effectively and we accumulate changes in our DNA.

Some of these changes occur in cells of the body - such as in skin cells as a result of sun exposure - but are not passed on to children. But other errors can occur in the DNA of cells that produce the eggs and sperm. These are called germline mutations and can be passed from parent to child. If a child inherits a germline mutation from their parents, every cell in their body will have this error in their DNA. Germline mutations are what cause diseases to run in families, and are responsible for the kind of hereditary diseases covered by Genetic Health.

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Related Questions

Can mutation heritable?

Mutations are able to be inherited if they occur in your mother or father's sex cells. This is known as a germline mutation.


Is Cystic Fibrosis a Germline mutation or an enviromental Mutation?

yes


Which mutation in a fruit fly could be passed on to its offspring?

A mutation in the fruit fly's germline cells, such as sperm or egg cells, can be passed on to its offspring. These mutations occur in the DNA sequence of the germline cells and can be inherited by the next generation. Somatic mutations, which occur in the non-reproductive cells of the fruit fly, are not passed on to offspring.


What is somatic mutations?

A mutation in a non-germline cell (germline cells are sperm, egg, etc.).


A mutation that occurs in a diploid cell can be inherited only if?

Mutation occurs in a cell that produces gemetes


Where in the body can the mutation not be passed on?

Mutations that occur in somatic cells, which are not involved in reproduction, cannot be passed on to offspring. These mutations are not present in the germline cells (sperm or egg cells) and therefore cannot be inherited.


Mutation that occurs in gametes and can be passed to the offspring are what?

Germline mutations are changes that occur in the DNA of an organism's gametes (sperm or egg cells) and can be passed on to their offspring. These mutations are present in every cell of the resulting offspring's body.


What is a mutation that affects the gametes of an organism?

A point mutation is a mutation that can affect the gametes of an organism. This type of mutation involves a change in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence, which can result in altered genetic information being passed on to offspring.


Are mutations in somatic cells heritable?

Nothing in somatic cells is inheritable unless it shows up in the gametes as well. As such, if a somatic cell experiences a mutation, it can only affect that cell and any cell it creates.


What happens if mutations occur in somatic cells of an organism?

A somatic mutation is one that occurs AFTER offspring have been conceived. This means that the mutations are not passed on to the f2 generation of offspring. An example we find in humans is cancer.


Who does somatic mutation affect?

A somatic mutation is one that occurs in any body cell with the exception of the gametes (sperm and eggs). A somatic mutation cannot be passed on to offspring, so it affects only the person with the mutation.


Why do persons having a mutation pass this condition on to their offspring?

Individuals with a mutation can pass it on to their offspring because the mutation is present in their germline cells (sperm or eggs), which are used to create offspring. This means that the genetic mutation is incorporated into the DNA of the offspring, resulting in them inheriting the mutation.