Accumulated Mutations Create A Cellular Mosaic In Our Bodies
It turns out you aren't simply a clone of cells from the womb. Over a lifetime, mutations create a patchwork of tissues made with pieces that have subtly different genetic signatures.
Your body has about 40 trillion cells, and they all arose from a single fertilized egg. But it turns out the DNA in many of those cells is no longer a perfect clone of that original one.
A study published Thursday in the journal Science shows that our body's cells are a mosaic, with many subtle genetic variations.
It's not news that that our cells pick up mutations as we age. Some skin cells morph into moles. And scientists have, esophagus and .
