Question

a scientist carries out an experiment on a hamster. he exposes the hamster to x-rays at regular intervals. this results in a germ line mutation in the hamster. what is the possible outcome on the progeny o the hamster?

Answer 1

A germline mutation is any detectable and heritable (meaning, it can be passed on to offspring) variation in the lineage of germ cells. A germline mutation will cause a constitutional mutation in the parent's offspring, which means that virtually every cell of the offspring will be affected by the mutation. So what will happen to the progeny, or offspring, of the hamster is that every cell of the offspring will be affected by the mutation. The mutation may cause a number of things to change, and may alter the physical appearance, or phenotype, of the offspring. For example, instead of having the normal two ears that a hamster should be born with, the affected offspring may be born with three or four ears. It all depends on the gene that was altered by the mutation in the parent.