What best distinguishes somatic effects from genetic effects?

What best distinguishes somatic effects from genetic effects?

• A. Somatic affects offspring; genetic affects the individual
• B. Somatic affects the exposed individual; genetic affects offspring
• C. Both affect only the environment
• D. Both are dose independent

Answer: (B)

Somatic effects are changes that occur in the person who was exposed to radiation and are not passed on to that person’s children. In contrast, genetic effects involve mutations in germ cells (sperm or ova) and can be transmitted to future generations, affecting the offspring even if they themselves were not exposed. So, the best distinguishing feature is that somatic effects affect the exposed individual, while genetic effects affect offspring.

Somatic effects are changes that occur in the person who was exposed to radiation and are not passed on to that person’s children. In contrast, genetic effects involve mutations in germ cells (sperm or ova) and can be transmitted to future generations, affecting the offspring even if they themselves were not exposed.

So, the best distinguishing feature is that somatic effects affect the exposed individual, while genetic effects affect offspring.