Mutations can occur in sex cells or in body cells. In which cell type might a mutation be passed from generation to generation? Explain.
reproductive cells
A mutation can be passed from generation to generation in sex cells. Sex cells, also known as germ cells, are involved in the process of sexual reproduction where genetic information is passed from one generation to the next. These cells include sperm cells in males and egg cells in females.
When a mutation occurs in a sex cell, it can be inherited by offspring because these cells are involved in the formation of offspring. During fertilization, a sperm cell carrying a mutation can combine with an egg cell, resulting in the mutation being present in the zygote, which will develop into a new individual.
On the other hand, mutations that occur in body cells (also called somatic cells) do not get passed on to future generations. Body cells make up the various tissues and organs of an organism, but they do not contribute to the genetic material passed on to offspring. Instead, these mutations are confined to the individual in which they occur and are not transmitted to subsequent generations.
Therefore, if a mutation is to be inherited and passed on to future generations, it must occur in a sex cell. This is why mutations in sex cells are of particular importance for evolution, as they can introduce new genetic variations into a population and contribute to the diversity of species over time.