Question

Describe the difference between somatic and germ cells and explain why how mutations that occur in somatic cells vs germ cells have a much different impact on the individual vs the next generation of that individual’s
offspring.

Answer 1

Each multicellular organism has two primary types of cells; germ cells and somatic cells.
A somatic cell is any cell of the body other than gametes (sperm and egg cells). They give rise to all non-germline tissues such as skin, blood, and connective tissue. They are the diploid cell that contains one chromosome from the father and one from the mother. Somatic cells can undergo mitosis. Mutations in somatic cells are termed as somatic mutations. Somatic mutations can affect the individual, but they are not passed to the next generation (offspring). Somatic mutations can be maintained only through cloning of the individual carrying mutation. Examples of somatic mutations are navel oranges and red apples. Mutations in somatic cells can cause various diseases, including cancer
Germ cells are present only in the gonads (ovaries in females and testes in males). They can give rise to reproductive cells called gametes. Germ cells can undergo meiosis as well as mitosis. Mutations in a germ cell termed as germinal mutation. These mutations do not affect the individual containing the mutation but can be passed on to the offspring because some gametes carry mutations that are passed on to the next generation. Diseases caused by these mutations are sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis.