How do germline mutations differ from somatic mutations in inheritance?

How do germline mutations differ from somatic mutations in inheritance?

• A. Germline mutations occur in reproductive cells and can be passed to offspring.
• B. Somatic mutations occur in reproductive cells and can be inherited.
• C. Germline mutations occur in body cells and are not inherited.
• D. Somatic mutations occur in reproductive cells and cannot be inherited.

Answer: (A)

Germline mutations are changes that occur in cells that give rise to sperm or eggs (or in early cells that contribute to the germline). Because these mutations are present in the cells that pass genetic material to the next generation, they get inherited by offspring and appear in every cell of the new individual. In contrast, somatic mutations happen in body cells after fertilization and affect only the descendants of the mutated cell within that individual; they are not passed on to offspring because the gametes do not carry the change. So the statement germline mutations occur in reproductive cells and can be passed to offspring best captures how inheritance works. The other ideas mix up the cell type or the inheritance pattern, since somatic mutations occur in non-reproductive cells and are not inherited, while germline mutations are in reproductive-line cells and can be inherited.

Germline mutations are changes that occur in cells that give rise to sperm or eggs (or in early cells that contribute to the germline). Because these mutations are present in the cells that pass genetic material to the next generation, they get inherited by offspring and appear in every cell of the new individual. In contrast, somatic mutations happen in body cells after fertilization and affect only the descendants of the mutated cell within that individual; they are not passed on to offspring because the gametes do not carry the change.

So the statement germline mutations occur in reproductive cells and can be passed to offspring best captures how inheritance works. The other ideas mix up the cell type or the inheritance pattern, since somatic mutations occur in non-reproductive cells and are not inherited, while germline mutations are in reproductive-line cells and can be inherited.