Science?????

Question

If somebody gets skin cancer from the sun, can they pass it on to their offspring?

Answer 1

UV from the sun acts as a mutagen which can speed up the process of mutations dramatically. UV can cause point mutations which affect the specific base sequence of the mRNA molecules. There are three different types of point mutations- insertion (inserting a new base into a codon), deltetion (deleting a base of the codon) or substitution (removing and adding a new base sequence) All of these can cause frame-shifts which can completly alter the mRNA molecules causeing different polypeptides to be produced during translation. This usually leads to variation and can sometimes be inherited but not often. But cancer is mainly unique to the person and cant be inherited.

Chromosomal mutations are the deletion of a piece of chromosome or the addition of a non homologous chromosome onto a chromosome. Most chromosomal mutations can be inherited to their offspring but these are usually cause during defaults in meiosis (production of halpoid gametes (s*x cells)) and mitosis which lead to a lot of syndromes such as Downs and Turners. These defaults may be cause by strong exposure to UV. Cancer isnt cause by chromosomal mutations and therefore it doesnt affect the production of gametes in anyway so therefore cant be inheirted to future offspring. It is a point mutations and therefore only affects the individual.

Answer 2

No. Cancer is an acquired condition that does not affect the DNA of the parent's s*x cells. The offspring will have unmutated DNA. For that matter, nothing that a person does or has happen to them in their life AT ALL can be transferred genetically to the offspring.