What are the two primary types of gene mutations?

The two primary types of gene mutations are indeed germline mutations and somatic mutations. Germline mutations occur in the reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) and can be passed on to the next generation. This means that these mutations can contribute to genetic variation within a population and play a significant role in evolution as they affect all cells of an organism that develops from the fertilized egg.

On the other hand, somatic mutations occur in non-reproductive cells and cannot be transmitted to offspring. These mutations can arise from a variety of factors including environmental influences or errors during cell division. While somatic mutations can lead to diseases like cancer in the individual, they do not contribute to the genetic makeup of any future generations.

The other options focus on different classifications of mutations, such as specific types of mutations or mutations based on coding characteristics, but they do not represent the primary categories that encompass how mutations are transmitted and their implications for inheritance and evolution. Understanding the distinction between germline and somatic mutations is fundamental in genetics, especially in studying hereditary diseases and evolutionary biology.