mutation

mu·ta·tion

noun \myü-ˈtā-shən\

Definition of MUTATION

1

: a significant and basic alteration : change

2

: umlaut

3

a : a relatively permanent change in hereditary material involving either a physical change in chromosome relations or a biochemical change in the codons that make up genes; also : the process of producing a mutation

b : an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation

— mu·ta·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective

— mu·ta·tion·al·ly adverb

Examples of MUTATION

1. The cat's short tail is the result of mutation.
2. The condition is caused by a genetic mutation.
3. The cat's short tail is the result of a mutation.
4. The building is a mutation of the original design.

First Known Use of MUTATION

14th century

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

Rhymes with MUTATION

aeration, Alsatian, carnation, castration, causation, cessation, cetacean, citation, Claymation, cognation, collation, conflation, C ration, creation, cremation, crenation, Croatian, crustacean, dalmatian, damnation, deflation, delation, dictation, dilation, donation, earth station, elation, Eurasian, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, formation, foundation, frustration, gas station, gestation, gradation, gustation, guttation, gyration, hydration, inflation, lactation, legation, libation, location, lunation, lustration, luxation, migration, narration, negation, notation, oblation, oration, outstation, ovation, palmation, palpation, plantation, potation, predation, privation, probation, pronation, proration, prostration, pulsation, punctation, pupation, purgation, relation, rogation, rotation, salvation, sedation, sensation, serration, space station, stagflation, stagnation, starvation, striation, substation, summation, tarnation, taxation, temptation, translation, truncation, vacation, vexation, vibration, vocation, way station, workstation

mu·ta·tion

noun \myü-ˈtā-shən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of MUTATION

1

: a relatively permanent change in hereditary material involving either a physical change in chromosome relations or a biochemical change in the codons that make up genes; also : the process of producing a mutation

2

: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation

—mu·ta·tion·al \-shnəl, -shən-^əl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

—mu·ta·tion·al·ly \-ē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb

mutation

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Alteration in the genetic material of a cell that is transmitted to the cell's offspring. Mutations may be spontaneous or induced by outside factors (mutagens). They take place in the genes, occurring when one base is substituted for another in the sequence of bases that determines the genetic code, or when one or more bases are inserted or deleted from a gene. Many mutations are harmless, often masked by the presence of a dominant normal gene (see dominance). Some have serious consequences; for example, a particular mutation inherited from both parents results in sickle-cell anemia. Only mutations that occur in the sex cells (eggs or sperm) can be transmitted to the individual's offspring. Alterations caused by these mutations are usually harmful. In the rare instances in which a mutation produces a beneficial change, the percentage of organisms with this gene will tend to increase until the mutated gene becomes the norm in the population. In this way, beneficial mutations serve as the raw material of evolution.