Somatic genetic variants: A genomic revolution hiding inside our cells

Somatic genetic variants: A genomic revolution hiding inside our cells

• Somatic genetic variants play an important role in the development of cancers. We now know that somatic changes can cause a cancer to develop and that cancers can accelerate the development of somatic changes. So they can help with early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis.
• Somatic genetic variants, also known as somatic mutations or somatic alterations, are genetic changes that occur in the cells of an organism’s body (somatic cells) during its lifetime.
• These mutations are distinct from germline mutations, which are inherited from parents and are present in every cell of an individual’s body.
• Somatic mutations are acquired after conception and are not passed on to future generations.
• Somatic mutations can occur due to various factors, such as exposure to environmental mutagens (like radiation or chemicals), errors in DNA replication, and other cellular processes.
• These mutations can affect the DNA sequence of specific genes, leading to changes in protein production or function.

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Published date : 28 Aug 2023 04:16PM