Suppose the fictional condition lycanthropy is an autosomal dominant disorder that causes an affected person to have a strong physical reaction to the changing lunar cycle. Most cases of lycanthropy are due to spontaneous new mutations in the gametes of normal individuals. These new cases are due to a spontaneous mutation that occurs in paternal gametes, as opposed to maternal gametes. Additionally, the likelihood of this mutation occurring increases as the father ages. Which of the following statements represent a related hypothesis for these findings? a) Sperm undergo more mitotic cellular divisions than egg and therefore have a higher risk of developing a spontaneous mutation.
b) The average somatic mutation rate is higher in males than in females, therefore sperm have more mutations than eggs.
c) The mutation for lycanthropy may confer a benefit to the sperm, increasing the chance of survival when compared to a normal sperm.
d) The gene involved in lycanthropy may be in a mutational hotspot.