Nonsense mutations can be either hereditary or acquired. Hereditary mutations are passed down from parents to offspring and are present in every cell of the body. For example, inherited nonsense mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes significantly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Acquired, or somatic, mutations occur in individual cells during a person's lifetime and are not passed on to offspring. These mutations can be caused by environmental factors such as smoking, radiation, or exposure to certain chemicals.
