noun
mutation
myoo-TAY-shun/mjuːˈteɪʃn/
A change in form or nature.
A mutation in the virus makes it harder to detect.
Etymology
The pieces name the action or process of changing. This broad meaning of alteration became specialized in genetics for changes in hereditary material.
In context
are unique to each one of us, creating the diversity and why you and your sibling don’t look identical. Recombination isn’t the only way that variety develops. Another process is mutation, which is a change in the DNA sequence.
More examples
- Residents debate the town's gradual mutation from fishing village to luxury resort.
- The story undergoes several mutations as people retell it.
- Some genetic mutations have no noticeable effect.
Forms
mutation · mutations
mutate verb — To change in form or nature.
mutant noun — An organism changed by a genetic mutation.
Similar words
- change
- A broader term for any difference in state or condition.
- transformation
- Emphasizes a major change in overall form or character.
- alteration
- Often suggests a limited adjustment rather than a fundamental change.