Germline mutation

Germline mutation

A germline mutation is any detectable and heritable variation in the lineage of germ cells. Mutations in these cells are transmitted to offspring, while, on the other hand, those in somatic cells are not. A germline mutation gives rise to a constitutional mutation in the offspring, that is, a mutation that is present in virtually every cell. A constitutional mutation can also occur very soon after fertilisation, or continue from a previous constitutional mutation in a parent.[1]

This distinction is most important in animals, where germ cells are distinct from somatic cells. However, in plants, the reproductive cells in a particular flower will be derived from the same meristem as the cells in that flower and on the stem leading to the flower, which is a different population of cells than those that give rise to the other flowers on the plant. Single-celled organisms have no distinction between germline and somatic tissues.

In animals, mutations are more likely to occur in sperm than in ova, because a larger number of cell divisions are involved in the production of sperm.[2]

Mutations that are not germline are somatic mutations, which are also called acquired mutations.

See also

References

  1. ^ RB1 Genetics at Daisy's Eye Cancer Fund. Retrieved May 2011
  2. ^ Schizophrenia Risk and the Paternal Germ Line

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Germline mutation — A heritable change in the DNA that occurred in a germ cell (a cell destined to become an egg or in the sperm) or the zygote (the conceptus) at the single cell stage. When transmitted to a child, a germline mutation is incorporated in every cell… …   Medical dictionary

  • germline mutation — A gene change in the body s reproductive cells (egg or sperm) that becomes incorporated into the DNA of every cell in the body of offspring; germline mutations are passed on from parents to offspring. Also called hereditary mutation …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • Mutation, germline — A heritable change in the DNA that occurred in a germ cell (a cell destined to become an egg or in the sperm) or the zygote (the conceptus) at the single cell stage. When transmitted to a child, a germline mutation is incorporated in every cell… …   Medical dictionary

  • Mutation — For other uses, see Mutation (disambiguation). Part of the Biology series on Evolution …   Wikipedia

  • Mutation — A permanent change, a structural alteration, in the DNA or RNA. In humans and many other organisms, mutations occur in DNA. However, in retroviruses like HIV, mutations occur in RNA which is the genetic material of retroviruses. In most cases,… …   Medical dictionary

  • Germline — In biology and genetics, the germline of a mature or developing individual is the line (sequence) of germ cells that have genetic material that may be passed to a child.For example, sex cells such as the sperm or the egg, are part of the germline …   Wikipedia

  • germinal mutation — germline mutation a mutation in a germ cell, altering the gametes and thus transmitted to progeny. Cf. somatic m …   Medical dictionary

  • Mutation, hereditary — A heritable change in the DNA of a gene or chromosome in a cell destined to become an egg or a sperm or the zygote (the conceptus) at the single cell stage. When transmitted to a child, an hereditary mutation is incorporated in every cell of… …   Medical dictionary

  • hereditary mutation — A gene change in the body s reproductive cells (egg or sperm) that becomes incorporated into the DNA of every cell in the body of offspring; hereditary mutations are passed on from parents to offspring. Also called germline mutation …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • Somatic mutation — A change in a gene or chromosome that occurs in a general body cell, as opposed to a germ cell, and so cannot be transmitted to children. A somatic mutation occurs in a single cell after the conception of the individual. That change is then… …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”