easy · LSAT Reading Comprehension
A genetic mutation is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene. Mutations can occur in several ways. Some are inherited from parents and are present in every cell in the body throughout a person's life. Others, known as somatic mutations, occur at some point during a person's life and are present only in certain cells, not in every cell. These can be caused by environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation from the sun or errors made as DNA copies itself during cell division. While the word 'mutation' often carries a negative connotation, not all mutations are harmful. Some have no effect at all, and some are actually beneficial, providing a genetic advantage that may be passed on to future generations. For example, some mutations can provide resistance to certain diseases or allow an organism to better adapt to its environment.
What distinguishes somatic mutations from inherited mutations?
- Somatic mutations appear only in a subset of the body's cells rather than in all of them.
- Inherited mutations arise solely as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
- Inherited mutations are uniformly beneficial while somatic ones are uniformly damaging.
- Somatic mutations are the exclusive product of copying errors during cell division.
- Somatic mutations are the only category capable of being passed to future generations.
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