A Somatic Mutation

Question

A somatic mutation
A) occurs only in microbes.
B) affects a particular subset of cells.
C) affects all cells of an individual.
D) is expressed only in embryos.
E) affects sleep cycles.

Accepted Answer

Somatic mutations are mutations that occur in somatic cells, which are any cells in the body that are not involved in reproduction. These mutations can affect a particular subset of cells, such as those in a specific tissue or organ, rather than all cells in an individual.

Answer: C 
 However, somatic mutations can also affect all cells of an individual, particularly if they occur early in development or in a stem cell that gives rise to multiple different cell types.

Answer: A, D, E 
 None of these answer choices accurately describe a somatic mutation.