What characterizes somatic mutations?

Somatic mutations are characterized by their occurrence in non-germline cells, which are any cells in the body except for the reproductive (germline) cells. This distinction is crucial because somatic mutations affect only the individual organism where they occur and are not inherited by offspring.

These mutations can arise from various factors such as environmental influences, replication errors, or exposure to certain chemicals. While some somatic mutations can contribute to diseases like cancer, not all lead to disease, and many may have no significant effect at all. The key aspect to remember is that somatic mutations are confined to the individual organism and do not affect the genetic material passed to the next generation, distinguishing them clearly from mutations that occur in germline cells, which can be transmitted to offspring.