Question

A mouse in a field eats food containing high amounts of a certain pesticide. The pesticide causes a mutation to occur in the liver cells of the mouse. Which of the following statements is most likely correct?

A.
The mutation will not spread to offspring because it is in a recessive gene.

B.
The mutation will spread to offspring because it is in a dominant gene.

C.
The mutation will not spread to offspring because it is not in a sex cell.

D.
The mutation will spread to offspring because it is beneficial.

Answer 1

C. The mutation will not spread to offspring because it is not in a sex cell.

Explanation: The mutation is in liver cells (somatic cells). Only mutations in germ cells (sperm or eggs) can be passed to offspring; somatic mutations affect only the individual.