mutant
pronunciation
How to pronounce mutant in British English:
UK [ˈmju:tənt]
How to pronounce mutant in American English:
US [ˈmjutnt]
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- Noun:
- (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration
- an animal that has undergone mutation
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- Adjective:
- tending to undergo or resulting from mutation
Word Origin
- mutant (n.)
- 1901, in the biological sense, from Latin mutantem (nominative mutans) "changing," present participle of mutare "to change" (see mutable). In the science fiction sense, it is attested from 1954. As an adjective from 1903.
Example
- 1. The researchers gave 10 mutant mice bone marrow from healthy mice .
- 2. Given the bottom-up nature of development , mutant switches could have large-scale consequences .
- 3. To test this idea , the researchers created three mutant strains of yeast .
- 4. In the gloom tepco 's logo on the walls of the building resembles a mutant mickey mouse .
- 5. Researchers then tested mutant flies that are missing some of these socially responsive genes and confirmed that these particular genes are important for behavior .