Which best describes somatic mutations?
a. they are usually passed on to offspring.
b. they can cause different kinds of cancer.
c. they always result from point mutations.
d. they only occur in reproductive cells.?

The right answer is B.

Thus, cancer is the consequence of an accumulation of genome alterations, somatic mutations (mutation affecting all types of cells except germ cells).

The mutation rate can be increased by some agents of the environment. This is the case of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that causes DNA damage and is responsible for many but not all skin cancers.

fertilization, pictured in figure 24.23a is the process in which gametes (an egg and sperm) fuse to form a zygote. the egg and sperm each contain one set of chromosomes. to ensure that the offspring has only one complete diploid set of chromosomes, only one sperm must fuse with one egg. in mammals, the egg is protected by a layer of extracellular matrix consisting mainly of glycoproteins called the zona pellucida. when a sperm binds to the zona pellucida, a series of biochemical events, called the acrosomal reactions, take place. in placental mammals, the acrosome contains digestive enzymes that initiate the degradation of the glycoprotein matrix protecting the egg and allowing the sperm plasma membrane to fuse with the egg plasma membrane, as illustrated in figure 24.23b. the fusion of these two membranes creates an opening through which the sperm nucleus is transferred into the ovum. the nuclear membranes of the egg and sperm break down and the two haploid genomes condense to form a diploid genome.

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