somatic variant

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-007869",
  "term": "somatic variant",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "An alteration in DNA that occurs after conception. Somatic variants can occur in any of the cells of the body except the germ cells (sperm and egg) and therefore are not passed on to children. These alterations can (but do not always) cause cancer or other diseases. Also called somatic mutation.",
    "In the context of cancer genetics, somatic variant refers to a variant in DNA that occurs before or during tumor development. This type of variant is not present within the germline (sperm and egg). Also called somatic mutation."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "somatic mutation"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "NCI Dictionary of Genetics Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/somatic-variant/"
}