AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Germline mutations (that occur in eggs and sperm) can be passed on to offspring, while somatic mutations (that occur in body cells) are not passed on.

Detailed explanation-2: -If a parent carries a gene mutation in their egg or sperm, it can pass to their child. These hereditary (or inherited) mutations are in almost every cell of the person’s body throughout their life. Hereditary mutations include cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and sickle cell disease.

Detailed explanation-3: -Mutations can affect an organism by changing its physical characteristics (or phenotype) or it can impact the way DNA codes the genetic information (genotype). When mutations occur they can cause termination (death) of an organism or they can be partially lethal.

Detailed explanation-4: -Mutations are only passed on to offspring when they occur in germ cell DNA, which are the cells that create sperm or ova. The other kind of cells, somatic cells, are the rest of the cells in the body, and mutations that occur in these cells do not get passed on to offspring.