mu·ta·tion (my -t  sh n)n. 1. The act or process of being altered or changed. 2. An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality. 3. Genetics a. A change of the DNA sequence within a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not found in the parental type. b. The process by which such a change occurs in a chromosome, either through an alteration in the nucleotide sequence of the DNA coding for a gene or through a change in the physical arrangement of a chromosome. c. A mutant. 4. Linguistics The change that is caused in a sound by its assimilation to another sound, such as umlaut. [Middle English mutacioun, from Old French mutacion, from Latin m  tti , mttin-, from past participle of mtre, to change; see mutate.]mu·ta tion·al adj.mu·ta tion·al·ly adv. |
mutation [mjuːˈteɪʃən]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Genetics) the act or process of mutating; change; alteration
2. a change or alteration
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Genetics) a change in the chromosomes or genes of a cell. When this change occurs in the gametes the structure and development of the resultant offspring may be affected See also inversion [11]
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Genetics) another word for mutant [1]
5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Genetics) a physical characteristic of an individual resulting from this type of chromosomal change
6. (Linguistics / Phonetics & Phonology) Phonetics
a. (in Germanic languages) another name for umlaut
b. (in Celtic languages) a phonetic change in certain initial consonants caused by a preceding word
mutational adj
mutationally adv
| mutation (my-tshn) A change in the structure of the genes or chromosomes of an organism. Mutations occurring in the reproductive cells, such as an egg or sperm, can be passed from one generation to the next. Most mutations occur in junk DNA and have no discernible effects on the survivability of an organism. Of the remaining mutations, the majority have harmful effects, while a minority can increase an organism's ability to survive. A mutation that benefits a species may evolve by means of natural selection into a trait shared by some or all members of the species. See Note at sickle cell anemia. |
Mutation of thrushes: group of moulting birds.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  mutation - (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alterationorganism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms freak, lusus naturae, monstrosity, monster - a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed |
| 2. | mutation - (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" deletion - (genetics) the loss or absence of one or more nucleotides from a chromosome inversion - (genetics) a kind of mutation in which the order of the genes in a section of a chromosome is reversed transposition - (genetics) a kind of mutation in which a chromosomal segment is transfered to a new position on the same or another chromosome mutagenesis - an event capable of causing a mutation gene mutation, point mutation - (genetics) a mutation due to an intramolecular reorganization of a gene reversion - (genetics) a return to a normal phenotype (usually resulting from a second mutation) saltation - (genetics) a mutation that drastically changes the phenotype of an organism or species | |
| 3. | mutation - a change or alteration in form or qualities alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" |
mutation
noun
1. anomaly, variation, deviant, freak of nature Scientists have found a genetic mutation that causes the disease.
2. change, variation, evolution, transformation, modification, alteration, deviation, metamorphosis, transfiguration I was forced to watch my father's mutation from sober to drunk.
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