Somatic effects refer to damage to which type of cells?

• A. Reproductive cells
• B. Cells that aren't reproductive
• C. All cells
• D. Genetic material

Answer: (B)

Somatic effects refer to damage to non-reproductive body cells. This means the harm occurs in somatic (body) cells rather than germ cells like sperm or ova. Because the damage is in the body’s cells, it affects the exposed individual and is not typically passed on to offspring. Damage to reproductive cells would be heritable, which is the opposite of somatic effects. Saying all cells would be too broad, since somatic effects are about non-reproductive cells specifically. Genetic material might be involved in some somatic injuries, but the defining idea is the type of cell affected. So, somatic effects describe harm to cells that aren't reproductive.