How does an acquired mutation in a somatic cell gene leading to cancer development affect a person's ability to pass on a predisposition for that cancer typeto hisorher children?
A)The predisposition can only be passed on if the person with the somatic cell mutation is female.
B)There is no risk of passing on a cancer predisposition to one's children from a somatic cell mutation.
C)The risk for predisposition is dependent on which tissue type experienced the somatic mutation.
D)Multiple somatic mutations are required for passing on a predisposition to cancer development.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Somatic cell mutations occur only in ordinary body cells, not in germline cells (eggs or sperm). Thus, somatic mutations cannot be passed on to one's children. The presence of somatic mutations is a major cause of sporadic cancer in a person, but this predisposition cannot be inherited by his or her children.

How Does an Acquired Mutation in a Somatic Cell Gene