Several members of the same family were diagnosed with the same kind of cancer when they were unusually young. Which one of the following is the most likely explanation for this phenomenon? It is possible that the individuals with the cancer have ____________.
(a) inherited a cancer-causing gene that suffered a mutation in an ancestor's somatic cells.
(b) inherited a mutation in a gene required for DNA synthesis.
(c) inherited a mutation in a gene required for mismatch repair.
(d) inherited a mutation in a gene required for the synthesis of purine nucleotides.
Answer: C