How does timing of a mutation change affect a trait in an offspring?

Answer 1

it's not as much the timing of the mutation. the genes of a human can be mutated during transcription of the DNA. if just one gene is thrown off, it can cause the whole chain to be affected. for instance, if an incorrect polypeptide is added to the chain where it shouldn't be added, every following gene will be off one spot. the mutations can happen during the DNA translation or when sex cells divide. that would be a mutation from the chromosomes; one missing chromosome that was not transferred correctly during cell division right from the beginning of when the sperm and egg meet can alter the whole offspring's function.