Which of the following mutations would most likely affect a person's offspring? A. A mutation in blood cells B. A mutation in nerve cells C. A mutation in lung cells D. A mutation in sex cells
Biology · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021
Answered on
Correct answer is d (a mutation in sex cells ) .
Germ-line mutations occur in reproductive cells (sperm or eggs) and are passed to an organism's offspring during sexual reproduction. Somatic mutations occur in non-reproductive cells; they are passed to daughter cells during mitosis but not to offspring during sexual reproduction.
If an parent carries a gene mutation in their egg or sperm, it can pass to their child. These hereditary (or inherited) mutations are in almost every cell of the person's body throughout their life. Hereditary mutations include cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and sickle cell disease.
The majority of mutations are neutral in their effects on the organisms in which they occur. Beneficial mutations may become more common through natural selection. Harmful mutations may cause genetic disorders or cancer.