Somatic (biology)

In

Somatic mutations are changes to the genetics of a multicellular organism that are not passed on to its offspring through the germline. Most cancers are due to somatic mutations.

Somatic is also defined as relating to the wall of the body cavity, particularly as distinguished from the head, limbs, or

The frequency of mutations in mouse somatic tissue (brain, liver, Sertoli cells) was compared to the mutation frequency in male germline cells at sequential stages of spermatogenesis.^[3] The spontaneous mutation frequency was found to be significantly higher (5 to 10-fold) in the somatic cell types than in the male germline cells.^[3] In female mice, somatic cells were also found to have a higher mutation frequency than germline cells.^[4] It was suggested that elevated levels of DNA repair enzymes play a prominent role in the lower mutation frequency of male and female germline cells, and that enhanced genetic integrity is a fundamental characteristic of germline cells.^[4] DNA repair processes can remove DNA damages that would, otherwise, upon DNA replication, cause mutation.

See also

• Perikaryon (soma)
  , the bulbous end of a neuron, containing the cell nucleus

References

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