Final answer:
A mutation in somatic cells can lead to various outcomes such as the development of diseases like cancer if critical genes are affected. These mutations cannot be passed on to offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The result of a mutation that occurs in somatic cells can have a variety of outcomes depending in part on the nature of the mutation and the role of the affected cell in the organism. Somatic mutations are changes that occur in the cells of the body other than the germ cells (sperm and eggs) and therefore cannot be passed on to offspring. Such mutations may have little to no perceptible effect on the organism, but if the mutation affects critical genes, it can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer. For example, if multiple mutations accumulate in a somatic cell, there is a risk for the cell to undergo uncontrolled division, leading to tumors or cancers such as pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and colorectal cancer.