What is the Difference Between Somatogenic and Blastogenic Variation?

The main difference between somatogenic and blastogenic variation lies in the cells they affect and their inheritable nature.

Somatogenic variation:

• Affects the somatic cells of an organism.
• Caused by external influences, such as environmental conditions like temperature, light, and food.
• Not inheritable and not transmitted to offspring.
• Lost with the death of the organism.
• Can be the result of conscious efforts in intelligent animals, such as training pets, receiving education, or mutilations in pets.

Blastogenic variation:

• Affects the germ cells of an organism.
• Inheritable and transmitted to offspring.
• Can be present in ancestors or suddenly formed.
• Divided into two types: continuous or discontinuous.
• Continuous blastogenic variation: involves quantitative characteristics.
• Discontinuous blastogenic variation: defined as sudden, unpredictable, inheritable departures from the normal without any intermediate stage.

In summary, somatogenic variations are non-inheritable changes in the somatic cells caused by external factors, while blastogenic variations are inheritable changes in the germ cells that can be present in ancestors or suddenly formed.

Comparative Table: Somatogenic vs Blastogenic Variation

Here is a table comparing somatogenic and blastogenic variations:

Somatogenic variations affect the somatic cells of an organism and are not inheritable, whereas blastogenic variations affect the germ cells of an organism and are inheritable. Somatogenic variations occur during the lifespan of an individual due to external influences, while blastogenic variations occur during gametogenesis in parents and have no external influence.