A mutation that occurs in ____ cell may be passed on to offspring.
A)a cancerous
B)a dividing
C)a somatic
D)an egg or sperm
E)any

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mutations that occur in egg or sperm cells (also known as germ cells) may be passed on to offspring. Mutations that occur in somatic cells (non-reproductive cells) will not be passed on to offspring, as they are not present in the gametes (sperm or egg cells) that combine during fertilization to form an embryo. Cancerous cells and dividing cells may or may not be somatic or germ cells, so those choices are not definitive enough. Therefore, the best choice is D - an egg or sperm cell.

A Mutation That Occurs in ____ Cell May Be Passed