Question

3. Suppose a person developed a mutation in a somatic cell that diminishes the performance of the body’s natural cell cycle control proteins. This mutation resulted in cancer, but was effectively treated with a cocktail of cancer-fighting techniques. Is it possible for this person’s future children to inherit this cancer-causing mutation? Be specific when you explain why or why not.

Answer 1

Answer: This cancer causing mutation will not be passed on to offspring.

Explanation: Cells are categorised into two, the germ cells and somatic cells. The germ cells are sex cells that produce or give rise to somatic cells called the body cells. Because somatic cells comes about secondarily from germ cells they only consist of random mutations (change in genetic make up) that maybe due to uv rays or a persons lifestyle thus these kind of somatic mutations cannot be passed down to offsprinds as they are not hereditary.