A few of us were in a debate last night about how smoking effects DNA of sperm.
Then we got home and I looked some stuff up, most studies done that I found by a basic Google search were useless (small sample size, not enough evidence, no information on what exact factors they took into place, etc.)
Ended up reading a post on Reddit and came to this conclusion:
Mutations from smoking will not be passed on during reproduction. These kinds of mutagens are affecting somatic cells (like skin, epithelial cells, epidermal cells); somatic cells do not pass their DNA on.
However if a mutation occurs in a germline cell (ones that make sperm or eggs) than yes the mutations would be passed on.
So if the mutations happen in a cell of the germline, (cells that will develop into gametes and contain DNA for reproduction), only then will it pass on.
Mutations in any other cells like the somatic cells I mentioned above, will not be passed on unless the mutation induces changes in other cells' DNA as well and affects the cells of the germline.
But these are my further questions:
Wouldn't the majority of these DNA changes either cause cancer or make no change whatsoever? I find it hard to understand how ones DNA can change yet their body does not react to it.
I forgot the terminology now, but wouldn't it either code for the exact same amino, or code for a different one which would cause cancer?
Also, if it were to be ignored by the body, and the white blood cells weren't to destroy the affected region, wouldn't it render some bodily processes useless?
Quick Reply
