New heritable characteristics can result from new combinations of existing
genes or from mutations of genes in reproductive cells. Changes in other
cells of an organism cannot be passed on to the next generation.
NSES Content Standard C
Life Science: The molecular basis of heredity Grades 9-12, page 185 Changes in DNA (mutations) occur spontaneously at low rates. Some of these changes make no difference to the organism, whereas others can change cells and organisms. Only mutations in germ cells can create the variation that changes an organism's offspring. NSES Content Standard C
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