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What is Somatic Mutation?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: Jan 31, 2024
Views: 57,077
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A somatic mutation is a genetic mutation which occurs in a somatic cell after conception. These mutations can lead to a variety of medical issues, and lay people commonly associate them specifically with cancers. Somatic mutations can be identified by examining the genetic material in a questionable cell and comparing it to a cell from elsewhere in the body; the DNA in the two cells will be different, despite the fact that it is not supposed to be.

There are two types of cells: somatic cells and germ cells. Germ cells eventually give rise to gametes, while somatic cells give rise to everything else. If a somatic mutation occurs in utero, all of the cells descended from the somatic cell will carry the mutation. This results in a situation called genetic mosaicism, in which some of the cells in someone's body have DNA which is different from other cells.

A somatic mutation in utero can lead to issues such as birth defects, with the impaired cell passing on the damaged DNA to its descendants and causing malformations. In other cases, someone may be left with mosaicism, but no outward problems. After birth, a somatic mutation can lead to the development of a cancer if the growth regulators in the cell are damaged, causing the cell to engage in out of control replication, creating new cells which will do the same.

Somatic mutations cannot be inherited, because they do not involve the germ cells. This type of mutation is sometimes called an “acquired mutation,” referencing the fact that it is not the result of inheriting a mutation from a parent. For example, a woman who develops breast cancer will not pass breast cancer on to her child. However, the risk of a somatic mutation can be increased by the presence or absence of certain inherited genes, which means that a the children of a woman with breast cancer may be at increased risk, and they can be tested to find out whether genes linked with breast cancer are present in their DNA.

Somatic mutations can happen for a variety of reasons. Some appear to be the result of exposure to toxins or radiation which interferes with the cell division process. Others are spontaneous, occurring as the result of a random error in the cell division process. Given the length of the genome, occasional mistakes do happen in individual cells, and in fact the body is coded to destroy somatic cells which have mutated, although it is not always successful.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGeek researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments
By anon162942 — On Mar 25, 2011

I am an undergraduate student. I would like to know why most researchers choose to use peripheral blood samples to study polymorphism of certain genes with somatic mutation? Why not use tissue or simply a buccal swab?

- Haniey

By BlogLove — On Feb 05, 2011

@JillT – You're right -- there’s also a BRCA2 gene that can mutate and increase the risk of ovarian cancer in women. The same type of test can be performed to determine if a woman has a BRCA2 gene mutation.

By JillT — On Feb 03, 2011

I was reading an article on this recently, and it mentioned one type of gene that greatly increases the risk of developing a somatic mutation -- it's called the BRCA1 gene. Normally this gene helps ensure that a cell’s DNA is stable and helps prevent uncontrolled cell growth. However a mutation in this gene can lead to breast cancer. Since the BRCA1 gene is inherited, the child of someone who has a BRCA1 gene mutation may develop breast cancer. Luckily, there are genetic tests to check for BRCA1 gene mutations.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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