A gene mutation

•It is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene, such that the sequence differs from what is found in most people.
•Gene mutations can be classified in two ways:

•Hereditary mutations are inherited from a parent and are present throughout a person’s life in virtually every cell in the body.
•Acquired (or somatic) mutations occur at some time during a person’s life and are present only IN certain cells, not in every cell in the body.