Here's why:
* Germ cells are the specialized cells that give rise to sperm and egg cells (gametes). These cells are responsible for transmitting genetic information from one generation to the next.
* Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence. If a mutation occurs in a germ cell, it will be incorporated into the gamete and passed onto the offspring.
* Somatic cells are all other cells in the body. Mutations in somatic cells affect only the individual carrying them and are not passed on to their offspring.
Therefore, only mutations in germ cells can be inherited by future generations.
