Question

Exposure to the building material asbestos has been linked to certain types of cancers. Asbestos causes mutations in the p53 gene, which controls tumor suppression.

Which statement best explains why people with cancer due to asbestos exposure do not pass the mutation on to their offspring?

Select {responseValue}
The mutation is sex-linked.

Select {responseValue}
The mutation occurred in gametic cells.

Select {responseValue}
The mutation is recessive.

Select {responseValue}
The mutation occurred in somatic cells.

Answer 1

Select {responseValue} The mutation occurred in somatic cells.

Explanation: Asbestos-induced p53 mutations are in somatic (body) cells that cause cancer but are not present in germ cells (sperm or eggs), so they cannot be passed to offspring.