Final answer:
Mutations during mitosis typically do not get passed on to the next generation because mitosis affects only somatic cells, not germ cells which contribute genetic information through meiosis and fertilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Mutations occurring during mitosis will be passed onto the next generation" is generally false. Mitosis occurs in somatic (body) cells and leads to the production of two genetically identical daughter cells. Any mutations that occur during mitosis will affect only the individual in which the mutations occurred, as they can be passed on to daughter cells within that organism. However, these changes will not typically be inherited by the organism's offspring since hereditary information is passed on through gametes, which are created via meiosis.
For heritable mutations to be passed on to the next generation, they must occur in the germ cells (i.e., sperm or eggs) and be transmitted during fertilization. This is because only the germ cells contribute to the genetic makeup of the offspring. In contrast, mutations in somatic cells, while they can lead to issues such as cancer within the individual, do not contribute to the genetic information of the next generation unless they occur in the cells that will become germ cells.