mutation
noun
mu·ta·tion
myü-ˈtā-shən 
1
: a significant and basic alteration : change
2
: umlaut
3
a
: a relatively permanent change in hereditary material that involves either a change in chromosome structure or number (as in translocation, deletion, duplication, or polyploidy) or a change in the nucleotide sequence of a gene's codons (as in frameshift or missense errors) and that occurs either in germ cells or in somatic cells but with only those in germ cells being capable of perpetuation by sexual reproduction
Mutations known to cause disease have been identified in approximately 1000 genes.—
Alan E. Guttmacher and Francis S. Collins
Alan E. Guttmacher and Francis S. Collins
also
: the process of producing a mutation
Microorganisms have been used extensively to study mutation … —George A. Wistreich et al.
George A. Wistreich et al.
b
: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation
The worst E. coli bacterium, E. coli 0157:H, a mutation discovered in 1982 that has at least sixty-two subtypes, causes hemorrhagic colitis …—Wayne Biddle
Wayne Biddle
mutationally
adverb
Examples of mutation in a Sentence
The cat's short tail is the result of mutation.
The condition is caused by a genetic mutation.
The building is a mutation of the original design.
Recent Examples on the Web
The breakthrough came in 2019, when high-throughput DNA sequencing revealed a rare mutation in a gene called PIGZ.
—New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2025
Gene drives are sequences of DNA that can be inserted into the genome of an individual and cause a specific mutation or gene to be passed on to virtually all offspring, instead of just 50%.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 23 July 2025
Blood levels of mtDNA mutations were 95% to 100% lower in six newborns, and 77% to 88% lower in two others, compared to levels of the same variants in their mothers, the researchers reported in a second paper.
—Nancy Lapid, USA Today, 17 July 2025
The ribosomes could not parse some mutations and trepidatiously tiptoed over physical roadblocks created by more severe damage.
—Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutation
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New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2025
Gene drives are sequences of DNA that can be inserted into the genome of an individual and cause a specific mutation or gene to be passed on to virtually all offspring, instead of just 50%.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 23 July 2025
Blood levels of mtDNA mutations were 95% to 100% lower in six newborns, and 77% to 88% lower in two others, compared to levels of the same variants in their mothers, the researchers reported in a second paper.
—Nancy Lapid, USA Today, 17 July 2025
The ribosomes could not parse some mutations and trepidatiously tiptoed over physical roadblocks created by more severe damage.
—Dan Samorodnitsky, Quanta Magazine, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutation
Cite this Entry
“Mutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutation. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mutation
noun
mu·ta·tion
myü-ˈtā-shən
1
: a basic and important change
2
a
: a permanent change in hereditary material involving either a change in the position of the genes on the chromosomes or a basic change in the chemical structure of a gene
also
: the process of producing a mutation
b
: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation
Medical Definition
mutation
noun
mu·ta·tion
myü-ˈtā-shən
1
: a relatively permanent change in hereditary material that involves either a change in chromosome structure or number (as in translocation, deletion, duplication, or polyploidy) or a change in the nucleotide sequence of a gene's codons (as in frameshift or missense errors) and occurs either in germ cells or in somatic cells but with only those in germ cells being capable of perpetuation by sexual reproduction
also
: the process of producing a mutation
2
: an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation
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