Do changes in an organism's cell modify the genetic information it uses for reproduction?

Question

What I'm actually interested about is whether a modification in one cell during the life of an **asexually** reproducing organism affects its genetic information? Which cell's genetic information is used during reproduction like budding, for example in the case of *Hydra*. Or does the incidental advantage it could have given rise to disappear with the death of the organism?

Answer 1

So, this question is a bit tricky. I think it would depend on the modification. However, we know that in order to reproduce, cells must undergo meiosis to create gametes. The gametes contain the DNA that will be passed onto the next generation. Thus, a modification in one cell during one organisms's life may potentially affect its genetic information if that information becomes incorporated into its genome.

This may potentially be the explanation for the existence of hereditary cancers as a healthy individual may have an onset of a mutation to one of their cells. The cell may fail to perform apoptosis thus resulting in uncontrolled division of the cell, ultimately forming a cancer. This mutated DNA may become incorporated into the genomic DNA, which will then be passed down, even if it's for an asexually reproducing organism. Being asexual may actually increase the chances for the individual to pass down the modified cell DNA, since it will only cross-over with it's own genetic material.

Answer 2

The mutation will be passed down to all that organisms offspring. This is the vary reason why nature prefers sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction. If an organisms genes are damaged and those damaged genes lead to an increased vulnerability to a certain disease, all offspring will share that vulnerability. Sexual reproduction circumvents this by have gametes being randomly varied and therefore making the species as a whole stronger. Even if one of or both of the parent organism has the bad gene, there is still a chance that the offspring doesn't get it.