Imagine that an accident has exposed you to a mutagen. however, the medical report indicates that only your germ cells (not your somatic cells) have been affected by the exposure. speculate on how this might or might not change your future.

Mutations occur in both germ cells and somatic cells, but the consequences of both are different. Mutations in somatic cells are called somatic mutations. In this case, if mutations occur in somatic cells, they can develop diseases, or start the cancerous process. They give rise to all non-germ line tissues because they do not occur in cells that give rise to gametes.

In addition to this, a process known as teratogenesis may occur, which may end up with congenital defects, disorders, and syndromes. During the process, genetic changes may cause alterations in the baby during the embryonic phase of the pregnancy.

Generally, we can say that we have to kind of cells based on reproduction:

Somatic and germinal cells.

Germ cells come from a division of stem cells (meiosis). They are at the origin of the formation of the reproductive cells, or gametes (spermatozoids in the man and the oocytes at the woman) The DNA of these cells affected by mutations can be transmitted to the offspring (which is not the case for somatic cell mutations).

Somatic cells represent all the cells of the body, except germ cells and embryonic cells. It could be bone cells, liver cells or blood cells ... Theoretically, since these cells are not germ cells, they will never transmit to their descendants the mutations they may have undergone. But it could lead to cancers if they are mutated (skin, liver, or lung cancer).