Somatic mutations occur in which type of cells?

Somatic mutations occur in somatic cells, which are any cells in the organism's body that are not involved in reproduction. These mutations can happen at any point in an individual's life and can affect a wide variety of tissues, leading to potentially significant consequences, such as cancer. Unlike mutations in gamete cells, which can be passed to the offspring, somatic mutations are typically confined to the individual and do not get transmitted to future generations.

Understanding that somatic cells comprise the bulk of an organism's cells helps clarify why sporadic mutations in these cell types are significant for that individual’s health and development, impacting biological processes throughout their lifetime.