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Related Concept Videos

Crossing Over01:34

Crossing Over

Unlike mitosis, meiosis aims for genetic diversity in its creation of haploid gametes. Dividing germ cells first begin this process in prophase I, where each chromosome—replicated in S phase—is now composed of two sister chromatids (identical copies) joined centrally.
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process called synapsis.
In order to...
Meiosis I01:49

Meiosis I

Meiosis is a carefully orchestrated set of cell divisions, the goal of which—in humans—is to produce haploid sperm or eggs, each containing half the number of chromosomes present in somatic cells elsewhere in the body. Meiosis I is the first such division, and involves several key steps, among them: condensation of replicated chromosomes in diploid cells; the pairing of homologous chromosomes and their exchange of information; and finally, the separation of homologous chromosomes by a...
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...
Nondisjunction01:29

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.
Nondisjunction01:21

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers.  Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis.  Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Generation of Integration-free Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Hair-derived Keratinocytes
08:36

Generation of Integration-free Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Hair-derived Keratinocytes

Published on: August 20, 2015

Somatic mosaicism in healthy human tissues.

Subhajyoti De1

  • 1Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA. subho@jimmy.harvard.edu

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|April 19, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Somatic mosaicism, the genetic variation within an individual

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Somatic cells accumulate genetic changes throughout life, leading to distinct cell clones within an individual.
  • This genetic variation is known as somatic mosaicism.
  • Factors like DNA replication errors, repair deficiencies, and environmental exposures contribute to its formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the origins and prevalence of somatic mosaicism in healthy human tissues.
  • To explore the potential implications of somatic mosaicism for disease risk.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on somatic mosaicism.
  • Analysis of endogenous and exogenous factors contributing to somatic mutations.
  • Discussion of epigenetic and gene expression alterations.

More Related Videos

Characterizing Mutational Load and Clonal Composition of Human Blood
07:58

Characterizing Mutational Load and Clonal Composition of Human Blood

Published on: July 11, 2019

Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches
09:35

Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches

Published on: April 20, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Generation of Integration-free Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Hair-derived Keratinocytes
08:36

Generation of Integration-free Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Hair-derived Keratinocytes

Published on: August 20, 2015

Characterizing Mutational Load and Clonal Composition of Human Blood
07:58

Characterizing Mutational Load and Clonal Composition of Human Blood

Published on: July 11, 2019

Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches
09:35

Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches

Published on: April 20, 2021

Main Results:

  • Somatic mosaicism arises from various endogenous and exogenous factors, including DNA replication errors and environmental exposures.
  • These genetic changes can influence epigenetic patterns and gene expression.
  • Somatic mosaicism is prevalent in normal human development and aging.

Conclusions:

  • Somatic mosaicism is a widespread phenomenon in healthy human tissues.
  • Its full implications for disease risk require further investigation.