The mutation is the change in the genetic makeup of an individual. It is a sudden change in the DNA base pairing. This occurs in both somatic cells and in germ cells. The somatic cell mutation creates a new character in the person, and it is harmless. The examples are six digits in man, tailless kitten, etc.
The germ cell mutation is heritable as it changes the genetic makeup of the zygote. This is always fatal to the animals. These mutations are also different types such as point mutation, frame shift mutation, substitution mutation. All changes alter the nucleotide base pairing and result in a new polypeptide formation.
On the basis of inheritance, mutations are somatic or inherited. Inherited or genetic mutations are those mutations that occur in germ cells. These cells are inherited by the offspring from their parents as they are present in gametes. All cells of a multicellular organisms are made up of a single cell zygote.
