mutation
pronunciation
How to pronounce mutation in British English:
UK [mjuːˈteɪʃn]
How to pronounce mutation in American English:
US [mjuːˈteɪʃn]
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- Noun:
- (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration
- (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism
- a change or alteration in form or qualities
Word Origin
- mutation (n.)
- late 14c., "action of changing," from Old French mutacion (13c.), and directly from Latin mutationem (nominative mutatio) "a changing, alteration, a turn for the worse," noun of action from past participle stem of mutare "to change" (see mutable). Genetic sense is from 1894.
Example
- 1. But curing the disease does not mean eliminating the mutation .
- 2. Dark testicles might protect birds from mutation , scientists find .
- 3. When mice were genetically engineered to have the mutation , they too struggled to sleep .
- 4. At its current rate of mutation , god knows what perl might evolve into in a hundred years .
- 5. Mainland media reported thursday that china has detected eight cases of swine-flu mutation this week .