gene mutation

noun

plural gene mutations

: a permanent alteration (as by point mutation or frameshift mutation) in the nucleotide sequence of a gene

Researchers have identified a gene mutation that's believed to predispose people to malignant melanoma, the deadliest and most aggressive type of skin cancer.

—Health News

compare point mutation

Examples of gene mutation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Does that mean the gene mutation in each of his liver cells is now fixed? —German Lopez, New York Times, 16 May 2025

The goal is to reuse key parts of the treatment -- like the lipid nanoparticle and mRNA -- and simply swap in a custom set of instructions for each patient's specific gene mutation, Ahrens-Nicklas explained. —Keerthana Pakanati, ABC News, 15 May 2025

For example, drugs known as Akt inhibitors may work well in people with certain gene mutations. —Jamin Brahmbhatt, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2025

Genetic testing can check for gene mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2. —Julie Scott, Msn, Anp-Bc, Aocnp, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gene mutation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

gene mutation

noun

: mutation due to a chemical change in a gene

Medical Definition

gene mutation

noun

: a permanent alteration (as a point mutation or frameshift mutation) in the nucleotide sequence of a gene

… there is a 50 percent chance each offspring will inherit the gene mutation and may develop the disease.

—Fred Cicetti

In early August the team published a study in Nature that chronicled how a single gene mutation in a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli could create a bacterium resistant to triclosan …

—Gary Stix